Eritrea’s Missing Team
Eritrea withdrew from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but behind its absence lies a deeper story of repression, forced military service and a generation searching for freedom.
Eritrea's withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers became one of the most unusual stories surrounding the tournament.
The national team pulled out before the qualifying campaign began, leading to the cancellation of all its matches. The reasons go far beyond football, as several players had previously used international trips to seek asylum abroad.
The country has been widely described as one of the world's most isolated regimes, with indefinite military service, limited freedoms and a large number of young citizens attempting to leave.
Author Fernando Lacasa explores this reality in his novel Huir de Eritrea, portraying young people forced to choose between lifelong repression and dangerous escape routes.
As the 2026 World Cup brings nations together, Eritrea remains absent from the global stage. Its missing team tells a much larger story—one about freedom, survival and hope.
