'I have to earn it...' - Former Premier League star turns down last-minute World Cup call-up

A former Premier League star has turned down the chance to play at the 2026 World Cup - because he believes he doesn't deserve it.

Most of the 48 nations set to play in the tournament have now announced their final 26-man squads, including England, Germany, Brazil and France.

Some nations are doing things slightly differently, with Morocco deciding to call up 28 players for a pre-World Cup training camp before they decide on their final selection.

Among the players named in that contingent is midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who switched international allegiance from France ahead of the tournament to enable him to play at the World Cup.

READ MORE: One of football's best young talents turns back on France as allegiance switch confirmed before World Cup

He is not the only player to switch allegiances on the eve of the competition, with midfielder Jorthy Mokio deciding to play for DR Congo instead of Belgium.

The 18-year-old, however, cannot represent his new nation this summer as he made his Belgium debut in March 2025, and must wait three years before he can play under FIFA regulations.

Ex-Premier League player rejects World Cup call

Elsewhere, former Crystal Palace and Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has been approached to play for Haiti at the World Cup.

The 28-year-old, who scored 18 Premier League goals during his time at Selhurst Park, played for France at youth levels.

Edouard won the Community Shield during his final season at Crystal Palace (Image: Getty)

But he is eligible to play for Haiti through his parents, who are of Haitian descent.

Haiti are playing at their first World Cup in 52 years - their second in history - and have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.

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But Edouard has decided not to represent the Caribbean country at the tournament.

He explained that, because he hasn't played for Haiti before, he doesn't feel he should take another player's spot at the World Cup.

He is quoted as saying: "I didn't feel legitimate playing in this World Cup because the players fought to qualify, and I wasn't going to show up at the last minute to take advantage of this World Cup.

"If I'm going to play in it, I have to earn it."

Edouard could have had an outside chance of making France's squad, having scored 12 goals in 28 Ligue 1 games since signing for Lens at the beginning of the season.

Lens topped the division in February and won 11 out of 12 games from November, but only won five of their last 12 matches to drop six points behind eventual champions PSG.

They also won the Coupe de France, with Edouard scoring in the final as Lens defeated Nice 3-1.

As for Haiti, they are favourites to finish bottom of their World Cup group but still have a number of talented players within their ranks.

Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor are among their key players, while defender Hannes Delcroix played for Burnley in the Premier League under Vincent Kompany.