The sense of anticipation is building ahead of Qatar 2022, but some of the game's best players will be absent…
Thirty-two nations will compete for the World Cup trophy when the tournament kicks off in the winter for the first time ever, with reigning champions France set to face stiff competition from the likes of Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Belgium in their pursuit of back-to-back titles.
England are also among the favourites, while household names such as Portugal and Netherlands have been billed as dark horses, but not all of the traditionally strongest nations will be present in Qatar.
Euro 2020 winners Italy were expected to return to the biggest stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018. However, Roberto Mancini's men let their tickets slip after suffering a humiliating playoff defeat to North Macedonia.
Sweden, Colombia, Chile, Nigeria and Egypt also fell short, and then there's the fact that some of the qualifiers are starting to lose key players to injuries in the run-up to the big kick-off on November 20.
Indeed, below, GOAL takes a look at the most notable absentees, including a certain in-form Manchester City frontman…
GettyDavid Alaba – Austria
David Alaba is revered as one of the greatest Austrian players of all time, having won everything there is to win at club level while also amassing 96 caps on the international stage.
The Real Madrid defender has never appeared in the World Cup finals, though, and Austria's latest qualification bid was scuppered by Wales in the European play-offs.
Alaba will be 33 when the next tournament rolls around, with a new expanded format of 48 teams set to be debuted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He will surely be past his peak by then, though, and may not even be a guaranteed starter as the next generation of Austrian talent continues to come through.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesPierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's hopes of appearing in a World Cup at least once in his career now appear to be well and truly over.
The 32-year-old scored twice during the CAF group stage but Gabon finished a distant second to Egypt, who progressed to the play-offs with the minimum of fuss.
Aubameyang, then, is going to have to just content himself with trying to finish his club career with a flourish after the former Arsenal forward returned to London from Barcelona during the summer to join Chelsea.
Getty ImagesGiorgio Chiellini – Italy
Giorgio Chiellini was almost at a loss for words after Italy's shock 1-0 loss to North Macedonia, admitting he was "crushed" by his nation's failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.
It's easy to understand why. The veteran centre-back knew he'd never get another chance to take to the game's greatest stage and he called time on his international career just a couple of months later.
That's good news for forwards all over the world, of course, but a blow for neutrals, who felt one of the great defenders of the modern era deserved to bow out in Qatar.
Getty ImagesLuis Diaz – Colombia
Luis Diaz has been an instant hit at Anfield since joining Liverpool from Porto in January.
The all-action winger helped the Reds win the FA Cup and League Cup in his first few months at the club, quickly becoming a fixture in Jurgen Klopp's front three following the departure of Sadio Mane.
Despite a recent injury, Diaz's club future certainly seems to be bright, but he is part of a squad very much in transition on the international stage.
Colombia reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2014 and the second round four years later, with global stars such as James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao leading their charge.
However, they could only manage a sixth-place finish in the 10-team CONMEBOL qualification process this time around, with Diaz unable to carry their hopes on his shoulders alone.