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This is a treasure trove of famous and forgotten stories about the greatest teams never to reach the World Cup, brought together for the first time.

Spanning from the 1950s to the 21st century, the book explores continental heavyweights who became shock absentees and underdogs who came heartbreakingly close to football's biggest stage. These are remarkable accounts of misfortune shaped by refereeing controversies, last-minute goals and even global politics.

Inside you will discover:
Stories from across the globe, featuring established powerhouses falling short and outsiders defying expectationsThe extraordinary careers of legends who never played at a World Cup, including Alfredo Di Stéfano, George Best, Eric Cantona and George WeahHow Johan Cruyff narrowly avoided joining that list after a controversial moment in a decisive qualifierPainful qualifying campaigns for the home nations, including Scotland in 1970, England in 1978 and Wales in 1986
Together, these compelling narratives form a vivid portrait of the drama, tension and unpredictability of World Cup qualification, one of the most demanding and unforgiving arenas in international football.