North Macedonia, a small Balkan nation of just 2 million people, earned global attention when they eliminated Italy — four-time World Cup winners — from the 2022 qualifying playoffs, one of the biggest shocks in international football history. Failing to replicate that feat for FIFA 2026 is disappointing, but their 2022 performance showed what North Macedonian football is capable of on its best day.
| Appearances | 0 (as North Macedonia / former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) |
| Best Finish | Never qualified for World Cup |
| Last Appearance | Never qualified |
| 2022 Result | Famous elimination of Italy in qualification playoff, then lost to Portugal |
Eljif Elmas (Leipzig) is North Macedonia's standout player — a technically gifted midfielder who performs at Champions League level, capable of moments of individual brilliance that drag his small nation beyond their collective limitations.
North Macedonia's failure to qualify for FIFA 2026 comes after the remarkable 2022 qualifier when they eliminated Italy — but that was also their ceiling. For a nation of 2 million, consistently reaching World Cup qualification playoffs and occasionally causing giant-killing upsets represents genuine overachievement, while non-qualification remains the realistic baseline given squad limitations. Eljif Elmas's continued development at RB Leipzig provides hope for sustained future improvement.
North Macedonia fans can follow Eljif Elmas at RB Leipzig — in the Champions League and Bundesliga, he faces many FIFA 2026 competitors (Germany's national team players, etc.) at club level. The story of North Macedonia eliminating Italy remains one of qualifying football's greatest moments to revisit.
Follow FIFA 2026 on T Sports and Sony Sports in Bangladesh. Group E's Germany — competing in their home Bundesliga alongside Elmas at Leipzig — provides the closest club-football connection to North Macedonian fans.