List of FIFA World Cup national team droughts

This is a list of droughts associated with the participation of national football teams in the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Longest active World Cup Finals droughts

Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance or teams that no longer exist.

Team	Last appearance	WC Missed
Cuba	1938	16
Indonesia(1)	1938	16
Wales	1958	13
Israel	1970	10
Congo DR(2)	1974	9
Haiti	1974	9
El Salvador	1982	7
Kuwait	1982	7
Peru	1982	7
Canada	1986	6
Hungary	1986	6
Iraq	1986	6
Northern Ireland	1986	6
United Arab Emirates	1990	5
Egypt	1990	5
Bolivia	1994	4
Austria	1998	3
Bulgaria	1998	3
Colombia	1998	3
Jamaica	1998	3
Morocco	1998	3
Norway	1998	3
Romania	1998	3
Scotland	1998	3
Belgium	2002	2
China PR	2002	3
Republic of Ireland	2002	2
Russia	2002	2
Senegal	2002	2
Turkey	2002	2

Longest World Cup Finals droughts overall

Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist Updated to include qualification for 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Team	Prev. appearance	Next appearance	WC Missed
Cuba	1938	active	16
Indonesia(1)	1938	active	16
Wales	1958	active	13
Turkey	1954	2002	11
Norway	1938	1994	11
Egypt	1934	1990	11
North Korea	1966	2010	10
Bolivia	1950	1994	10
Israel	1970	active	10
Congo DR(2)	1974	active	9
Haiti	1974	active	9
United States	1950	1990	9
Australia	1974	2006	7
South Korea	1954	1986	7
Peru	1930	1970	7
El Salvador	1982	active	7
Kuwait	1982	active	7
Peru	1982	active	7
Honduras	1982	2010	6
Switzerland	1966	1994	6
Colombia	1962	1990	6
Paraguay	1958	1986	6
Netherlands	1938	1974	6
Poland	1938	1974	6
Canada	1986	active	6
Hungary	1986	active	6
Iraq	1986	active	6
Northern Ireland	1986	active	6
New Zealand	1982	2010	6
Algeria	1986	2010	5
Romania	1938	1970	5
United Arab Emirates	1990	active	5
Egypt	1990	active	5
Northern Ireland	1958	1982	5
Iran	1978	1998	4
Tunisia	1978	1998	4
East Germany(3)	1974	dissolved	4
Romania	1970	1990	4
Portugal	1966	1986	4
Austria	1958	1978	4
Bolivia	1994	active	4

Footnotes

(1)FIFA regards Indonesia as the same entity which competed in 1938 as the Dutch East Indies.

(2)Congo DR competed in 1974 as Zaire.

(3)East Germany was last eligible to compete in a World Cup finals in 1990. They ended their existence having missed four consecutive World Cups.

See also

• List of national teams with no FIFA World Cup appearances
• National team appearances in the FIFA World Cup