The World Cup’s unlucky 10 who never got a minute
The World Cup has come to an end after six weeks of intense competition, and for most players it is now a time for a well-earned rest. For a few, however, the tournament will be remembered for a far less satisfying reason: they did not play a single minute.
Out of the 1,248 players selected for the competition, the vast majority managed at least some game time. But there were still a handful of unlucky squad members who travelled to the United States, Mexico and Canada and never once made it onto the pitch.
N'Golo Kante (France)
At 35, N'Golo Kanté may no longer be the force he once was, but few would have expected him to go through the tournament without a single minute. A key figure in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, he remained on the bench even in the third-place playoff defeat to England.
Kobbie Mainoo (England)
Mainoo will feel especially frustrated after sitting out the entire tournament for England. He started the Euro 2024 final, but two years later he was the only England outfield player not to feature at the World Cup, with illness ruling him out of the third-place playoff.
Victor Munoz (Spain)
Muñoz was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, but only in a non-playing role. Injury kept the former Osasuna forward out of the opening matches, and he never managed to force his way onto the pitch.
David Raya (Spain)
Raya had to settle for the role of backup goalkeeper throughout the tournament. Spain’s goalkeeping situation was so stable that Luis de la Fuente kept faith with Unai Simón, leaving the Premier League Golden Glove winner on the bench from start to finish.
James Trafford (England)
Trafford was also left waiting for an opportunity that never came. Dean Henderson was chosen for the third-place playoff, while Trafford spent the rest of the competition in a familiar role on the sidelines.
Bremer (Brazil)
Bremer was always likely to face a challenge breaking into Brazil’s defensive line, with Gabriel and Marquinhos established as the preferred pairing. Even so, he leaves the tournament having not played a single minute.
Ronald Araujo (Uruguay)
Araújo’s situation was affected by injury just before the tournament, which ruled him out of Uruguay’s first two matches. Their poor group-stage campaign then meant he never had the chance to feature at all.
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain)
Grimaldo enjoyed a strong summer overall, but the World Cup itself brought no playing time. He watched Marc Cucurella hold down the left-back spot while Spain’s run continued without needing him.
Goncalo Inacio (Portugal)
Portugal’s defensive depth made life difficult for Inácio, who remained unused throughout the tournament. With Rúben Dias and Renato Veiga forming the central partnership, his chance never arrived.
Mats Wieffer (Netherlands)
Wieffer could have hoped for an opening after Jurriën Timber’s injury, but the Netherlands stuck with their preferred line-up. In the end, he did not get onto the pitch at all, while Denzel Dumfries played every minute at right back.
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