Teams That Have Never Qualified For The FIFA World Cup Finals

Home to 211 affiliated associations, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is one of the largest international sports organizations in the world. As a result, the teams that qualify for the FIFA World Cup are held in high esteem by sports fans across the globe. While some countries such as Brazil, Germany, and Argentina consistently qualify for this highly regarded cup, other countries have struggled year after year. The countries that have most attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals but have yet to succeed include Luxembourg, Finland, Curaçao, Guatemala, Syria, Suriname, Cyprus, Zambia, Venezuela, and Guinea.

Countries with the Most FIFA World Cup Qualifying Attempts That Have Never Qualified

Luxembourg - 21 Attempts

Although Luxembourg has attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on 21 different occasions, the small country with a population of 683,500 residents has never successfully qualified. They made their first attempt in 1934 and have been trying to qualify for the UEFA European Championship since 1964 but have yet to succeed in either. Despite their lack of success competing in the FIFA World Cup, the national Luxembourg football players competed in six Olympic events between 1920 and 1952, making it past the preliminary rounds on two occasions.

Finland - 20 Attempts

Finland has attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup just one less time than Luxembourg and similarly has never qualified. The Football Association of Finland was founded in 1907, with the Finland national football team joining FIFA the following year in 1908. Although the team made progress in the early 2000s, achieving a record-high FIFA ranking of 33rd in 2007, they experienced a decline in the following decade, dropping to a record-low ranking of 110th in 2017. Most recently, they qualified for UEFA Euro 2020, marking the first time in history they qualified for a major tournament.

Curaçao - 18 Attempts

Curaçao, formerly classified as the Netherlands Antilles and Territory of Curaçao in FIFA, has made 18 attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The country first competed in 1924 as the Territory of Curaçao national football team in a match against Aruba. Thirty years later, in 1954, they changed their name to the Netherlands Antilles national team following a constitutional change, and in 2011, they played for the first time as the Curaçao team against the Dominican Republic. In 2017, they achieved major success by winning their first Caribbean Cup after defeating Jamaica. The team has attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup at each opportunity since 1958.

Guatemala - 17 Attempts

Since joining FIFA, Guatemala has attempted to qualify for the World Cup 17 times, but it has not yet been successful. Although the Guatemala National Football Team was formed in 1919, it did not join FIFA until 1946, when it became a member of CONCACAF. Although they have not yet qualified for the World Cup Finals, they have reached the final round of FIFA qualifications during four separate opportunities. The Guatemalan team also competed in the Olympic Tournament in 1968, 1976, and 1988. One of their best successes took place in 1996 when they finished fourth during the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Syria - 16 Attempts

Since becoming a member of FIFA, Syria has made 16 separate attempts to qualify for the World Cup. The country formed the Syrian Football Association in 1936, and it joined FIFA in 1937. In 2014, the national team was disqualified before qualifying due to fielding an ineligible player. Despite never qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, the country’s national team has had several notable successes over the years. In 2012, they won the West Asian Football Federation Championship and, most recently, the Intercontinental Cup in 2024. FIFA currently has banned Syria from playing at home, having not hosted a home game since 2010.

Suriname - 16 Attempts

Suriname, located in the northern part of South America, has also made 16 attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Despite being a South American country, it competes in the CONCACAF division, being one of the founding members in 1961. Being a former Dutch colony, Many Suriname-born players have left the country to play for the national Netherlands Football Team. One of the country’s most successful years in terms of qualification attempts occurred in 1978 when the team arrived at the final group stage of the finals. Since then, the national team has not had much success related to the FIFA World Cup.

Cyprus - 16 Attempts

The Cyprus National Football Team has similarly attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on 16 separate occasions. The country’s team, from Eurasia, competed for the first time in 1949, one year after joining FIFA, tying 3 to 3 against the Maccabi Tel Aviv team from Tel Aviv. One of the most renowned victories of the Cyprus team took place in 1974 when they beat Northern Ireland one to zero in Nicosia, Cyprus’s capital. In 1988, Cyprus scored its first point during an away match while playing against Poland. However, the 2020-2021 Nations League was a significant disappointment for Cyprus, as they lost their first three games in a row before drawing to Azerbaijan in the fourth.

Zambia - 15 Attempts

Since the Zambia national football team began competing in FIFA tournaments, they have made 15 attempts to qualify. A national tragedy struck in 1993 when 18 players en route to a qualifying match against Senegal perished in a plane crash caused by mechanical failure. Despite this devastating loss, Zambia has shown remarkable resilience. They are now considered among the best in their division, winning the 2023 COSAFA Cup and claiming the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012. The team is affectionately known as Chipolopolo, meaning “The Copper Bullets.”

Venezuela - 15 Attempts

Venezuela has been competing in FIFA World Cup qualifiers since 1966, making 15 attempts over the decades. In their first qualifying attempt in 1966, they failed to score a point in the four matches they played. Their first win during the qualifications was not until 1982, when they competed against Bolivia. Venezuela’s lack of national success in football is largely due to the country’s involvement in baseball. A large amount of athletic talent in the country is applied toward baseball, resulting in a historic lack of success in its football league, CONMEBOL.

Guinea - 14 Attempts

Despite its 14 qualifying attempts over the decades, Guinea has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. The country debuted its national football team in 1962, playing and losing a match against Togo. A few years later, in 1965, they qualified for the African Cup of Nations but were ultimately replaced by Senegal. They finished second in the 1976 African Cup of Nations, losing by a mere point against Morocco. In 2001, FIFA banned the country for roughly two years due to government interference in the sport. Around a decade later, Guinea had a major success when they beat Botswana six to one in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations group stage.

Final Thoughts

While some countries have never qualified for or participated in the FIFA World Cup, a select few, including Indonesia, Cuba, and Qatar, have participated without qualifying. FIFA typically allows these special cases when other group members drop out, as with Qatar, when a country hosts the tournament. Although countries like Zambia and Curaçao have faced challenges with FIFA qualifications, their recent successes suggest that this trend may change in the future. With the next FIFA World Cup set to take place in 2026, sports fans worldwide will be eager to see if any of these nations experience a change of fortune.

Countries That Have Never Qualified For The FIFA World Cup, Ranked By Qualifying Attempts