Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened. This aphorism could be just as easily used to describe the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the players who are bidding farewell to the international game.
We’ve already seen quite a few players hang up their boots from international duty, and there’s bound to be quite a few players who will join them in the next few months. Today, we’re taking a look at the players from Groups A through D who won’t be around for the 2030 World Cup.
Group A
From Group A’s four teams, the most well-known player on two of those sides will likely be out of football by the time 2030 picks up. For Mexico, Guillermo Ochoa (41) has already retired from football entirely after an iconic career stretching six World Cups. New manager Rafa Márquez could very well cut ties with veteran mainstays like Raúl Jiménez (35), Luis Romo (31), Jesús Gallardo (31), Alexis Vega (28) and more.
Whilst Ochoa was a mere benchwarmer this time around, South Africa’s starting goalkeeper Ronwen Williams (34) and others like Ricardo Goss (32), Audrey Modiba (30), Iqraam Rayners (30), Khuliso Mudau (31), and Nkosinathi Sibisi (30) could also be phased out. Themba Zwane has been the creative engine and technical leader of Bafana Bafana for years, but at nearly 37, he has certainly had his swan song at the international level.
South Korea’s starting goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (35) could retire ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, whilst Jo Hyeon-woo (34) and Lee Jae-sung (33) might leave in the midst of the government inquiry to their group-stage exit. And at 34, there’s reason to believe that the Taeguk Warriors’ all-time leading scorer and appearance maker Son Heung-min could make way for younger players to take his place.
Czechia will certainly be due an overhaul after their embarrassing last-place finish, with mainstays like Vladimír Darida (35) and Vladimír Coufal (33) likely to be phased out as well as Slavia Prague’s Tomáš Holeš (33), Tomáš Chorý (31), and Jaroslav Zelený (33). The most well-known Czech striker, Patrik Schick (30), has also called it quits after 26 goals in 56 appearances.
Group B
Whilst the greatest-ever South Korean player might just have a few more caps up his sleeve, the greatest Bosnian player of all time might decide to hang up his boots. At 40 years of age, captain Edin Džeko could very well step down after 73 goals and 151 caps (both records) for Bosnia & Herzegovina. Having led them to their first-ever knockout round match, there’s nothing left for him to prove.
Having played just 16 minutes across two World Cup cameos, Jonathan Osorio (34) will likely step down, having already been surpassed in the Canadian midfield rotation by Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné and Niko Sigur. And while Maxime Crépeau (31) won’t be going away without a fight after starting in goal throughout the World Cup, he could very well be benched by younger options like Dayne St. Clair and Owen Goodman.
Qatar, meanwhile, could shake things up as they eye a third-straight Asian Cup. The bulk of their core is in need of a revitalization, such as Abdulaziz Hatem (36), Lucas Mendes (36), Boualem Khoukhi (36), Pedro Miguel (35), and Karim Boudiaf (35). And after previously retiring in 2024, only to return and score in the 2026 World Cup, captain and all-time appearance maker Hassan Al-Haydos (35) should bid farewell to his Qatar chapter.
Switzerland already lost three key players in Xherdan Shaqiri, Yann Sommer and Fabian Schär after Euro 2024, and they could lose a few like Silvan Widmer (33) and Christian Fassnacht (32) after their historic run to the quarterfinal. However, you get the sense that starters Remo Freuler (34), Granit Xhaka (33), and Ricardo Rodriguez (32) will try to stick it out in order to compete for one last hurrah at Euro 2028.
Group C
After their worst World Cup since 1990, Brazil will likely be parting ways with Weverton (38), Alex Sandro (35), Danilo (35), Fabinho (32), and Casemiro (34). All-time leading scorer Neymar (34) has also retired after a 16-year career with the Seleção, having been in the wilderness for 981 days only to return to the squad for the World Cup. His first Brazil game was at MetLife Stadium, and his last game was there too.
Scotland failed to convince in their first World Cup since 1998, and with longtime manager Steve Clarke departing and backup goalkeeper Craig Gordon (43) retiring, a generational shift is underway. Kenny McLean (34) should step down to make way for younger midfielders, whilst center back Grant Hanley (34) will likely be considering his options after being benched in the final group stage match.
Haiti manager Sébastien Migné relied heavily on a foundation of veteran leaders to secure their return to the tournament after 52 years, but several key figures are expected to step back like captain and starting goalkeeper Johnny Placide (38). Ricardo Adé (36) will likely move away from international duty, enabling younger center backs like Jean-Kévin Duverne to fill the void.
Whilst they fell short of their unprecedented semifinal run in 2022, Morocco have shown plenty of promise this year with one of the youngest squads in the tournament. Fringe players Marwane Saâdane (34) and Munir Mohamedi (37) will likely retire, but as for Yassine Bounou (35), he’s still one of the best goalkeepers in the game, and he’ll be aiming to keep it together before playing another World Cup on home soil.
Group D
After narrowly losing on penalties in their first-ever World Cup knockout match, Australia are due for some upheaval with the likes of Aziz Behich (35) and Matthew Leckie (35) on their way out. Captain Mathew Ryan (34) has had a nightmare tournament, getting benched by Patrick Beach on the eve of the campaign, only to replace him for the shootout vs. Egypt and fail to guess right for a single penalty, and he will likely retire.
Paraguay relied heavily on an experienced defensive foundation to qualify for their first World Cup since 2010, but several key veterans are entering the final stages of their international careers to make way for a vibrant young core. Gatito Fernández (38) has been left in the dust by Orlando Gill, whilst Gustavo Velázquez (35), Gabriel Ávalos (35), and Fabián Balbuena could fade away before the 2028 Copa América.
Türkiye will be expected to make some changes after an underwhelming return to the World Cup after 24 years, with backup goalkeeper Mert Günok (37) and backup defender Samet Akaydin (32) the likeliest to step down. And while he’s still going strong at Inter, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu (32) will be thinking over his status after failing to play a single minute vs. the USA.
Out of the USA’s entire 26-man squad, Matt Turner (32) and Cristian Roldan (31) are both unlikely to return for the 2030 World Cup after their limited involvement in 2026. Captain Tim Ream (38) has stated that he won’t retire from international football until he retires from football completely, but there’s reason to believe that he’ll be moved on to make way for younger center backs.
