World Cup 2026: One player to watch from all 48 nations

Analysis

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

The biggest World Cup in history is upon us as 48 countries from across the globe travel to Canada, Mexico and the United States of America in the hope of winning the showpiece final on 19 July.

Some of the best players on the planet will be in action at the tournament, while unheralded stars will undoubtedly establish themselves as cult heroes thanks to their heroics in North America as the eyes of the world look on.

With so many teams in action and so many players therefore selected, the 2026 World Cup promises to be one of the most entertaining of all time.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through one player to watch from all 48 competing nations at this summer’s World Cup.

Group A

Mexico: Brian Gutierrez

The obvious choice for Mexico would be 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora, but it may be a tournament too soon for the prodigious teenager. Instead, Brian Gutierrez could be El Tri’s breakout star this summer.

The Chivas attacker has only been with the team since January - he switched his allegiance from the US to Mexico in late 2025 - but he has already played his way into Javier Aguirre’s starting lineup.

The coach has used the Illinois-born attacking midfielder regularly to get a good look at him ahead of the World Cup, and he has clearly liked what he has seen.

With a couple of El Tri goals already to his name, Gutierrez will surely be keen to show USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino that he was wrong to overlook him.

South Africa: Mbekezeli Mbokazi

20-year-old defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a surprising career choice over the winter when he opted to move to the Chicago Fire despite fielding strong European interest. It was a move that raised eyebrows, with even Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos criticising the centre-back’s decision.

In hindsight, though, it has done nothing to harm his chances of starring for South Africa. Instead of sitting on the bench at a European top club, the prospect is playing regularly in MLS, which has increasingly become a stepping-stone league for young players.

Mbokazi is a unique centre-back profile. He is left-footed, which naturally makes him attractive, and he has a great passing range. What he lacks in size - he is quite small at 5ft 10in - he makes up for in game intelligence and tenacity.

The former Orlando Pirates starlet has been a regular starter for his country for a year, so he will see plenty of minutes at the World Cup. Impressive performances this summer will accelerate his inevitable move to a strong European league.

South Korea: Lee Kang-in

Picking out a South Korean player (not named Son Heung-min) is quite difficult because of the sheer raft of talent at the disposal of coach Hong Myung-bo. One player who will be under significant pressure to perform is PSG attacker Lee Kang-in because he is essentially playing for a transfer.

It has become abundantly clear that the 25-year-old needs to leave the French giants if he wishes to really kickstart his career, so the World Cup will provide him with the best chance to show off his talents to a large audience.

He already had clubs queuing up for him last year, and it will be no different if he can help South Korea make a deep run at this summer’s finals.

Czech Republic: Patrik Schick

The Czech Republic took the long route of qualifying for the World Cup via the playoffs, and it would be an exaggeration to say that Miroslav Koubek’s men have been particularly impressive in recent times. All of their hopes of doing anything at this summer’s tournament will rest on the shoulders of star striker Patrik Schick.

One of Europe’s most underrated No.9s, the 30-year-old has been scoring roughly a goal every other game when playing for his country, and he is coming off a 16-goal season for a poor Bayer Leverkusen side. Schick and Lyon attacking midfielder Pavel Sulc will have to be at their best if the Czech are to have a successful World Cup campaign.

Group B

Canada: Jonathan David

Canada have never even recorded a point in their three World Cup appearances but they will be desperate to put on a show during their first ever tournament as a host nation, with the pressure likely to fall on their all-time top scorer Jonathan David to deliver on the big stage.

Although David is coming off the back of a less-than-stellar debut season with Juventus, the forward has netted a record 39 goals for his country and will be the face of Canada’s campaign, with captain Alphonso Davies still fighting injury ahead of the tournament.

Plus, on a personal level, David will be determined to rescue his reputation after his struggles for Juve, knowing that a successful World Cup could provide the confidence boost he needs to thrive next season for the Italians - or attract a new club during the summer transfer window.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Kerim Alajbegovic

Everybody loves the prospect of seeing a wonderkid break out at the World Cup and few youngsters are primed for such an experience than Kerim Alajbegovic, who is likely to feature heavily for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 18-year-old is already confirmed to be returning to Bayer Leverkusen this summer after an impressive year with Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored 13 times in all competitions from the left wing and was named the Player of the Season in the Austrian Bundesliga.

The German-born teenager has an exciting playstyle that can grab headlines and a productive World Cup would firm Alajbegovic’s place on the radar of Europe's elite clubs ahead of the summer transfer window and maybe even elevate him to superstardom across the world.

Qatar: Akram Afif

2022 hosts Qatar are set to feature in their second-ever tournament in the hope that they can show more than they did last time round on home soil, where they lost all three of their matches and scored just once.

The Gulf nation are coached by former Real Madrid and West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui and the Spaniard will be pinning his hopes on two-time Asian Footballer of the Year Akram Afif to replicate his club and continental form on the global stage.

Afif is a key player for Qatar, having been named the best player in their successful AFC Asian Cup win in 2023, and the winger has also been prolific for club side Al Sadd, giving Lopetegui some belief that his team can show some growth from their previous World Cup campaign.

Switzerland: Breel Embolo

Switzerland have not progressed past the round of 16 at the World Cup since 1954 but they are the strongest team in Group B and have a host of experienced talent capable of performing on the big stage after falling short on so many occasions.

While captain Granit Xhaka is the country’s most established player, Breel Embolo will be expected to carry the torch for Switzerland after netting a team-high four goals during the qualification period and scoring ten times for Rennes last season.

Embolo will be competing at his third World Cup, having scored twice in 2022, and the 29-year-old will be determined to show that he has fulfilled his once-limitless potential by taking Switzerland deeper into the tournament than ever before.

Group C

Brazil: Raphinha

Brazil arrive in North America without the type of all-conquering squad typically associated with the Selecao. Only three players in their squad have more than 10 international goals - one of whom is Neymar, who there are major injury doubts over.

Barcelona winger Raphinha, on the other hand, comes into the tournament after a strong season at Camp Nou, during which he scored 21 goals across all competitions.

The 29-year-old is not a figure to wilt under pressure. He has captained Barca this season and has shown with 11 goals in 37 caps that the weight of the Brazil jersey is not something that he fears.

Although he suffered injury issues towards the end of the season, these may prove a blessing as he should be coming into the tournament fresh.

Morocco: Achraf Hakimi

When it comes to full-backs, there is probably not another player at the World Cup who has the potential to be a matchwinner to the same extent as Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers with PSG and is a vastly experienced campaigner on the international scene. He is expected to celebrate his 100th cap during the tournament.

A daring attacking figure from deep on the park, he was named in the AFCON Team of the Tournament back in January. With doubt still lingering over who will be declared African champions following that competition’s dramatic climax, expect Morocco’s captain to play with a point to prove.

Haiti: Wilson Isidor

Once a much-hyped wonderkid of French football, the Rennes-born Sunderland attacker has changed nationality just in time to qualify for Haiti and play for them at the World Cup. Indeed, before the summer, he only had two appearances for the nation, notably scoring in his second outing against Iceland.

With Odsonne Edouard rejecting the chance to play for the Caribbean nation, their offensive hopes are likely to be largely pinned on the 25-year-old, who is coming off the back of an impressive debut season in England’s top flight. He may only have scored six goals, but given these were scored in little over 1,100 minutes of pitch time, it highlights how much of a threat he carries.

Scotland: Ben Gannon-Doak

All attention surrounding Scotland will be on Scott McTominay, yet winger Ben Gannon-Doak has the potential to be a matchwinner for Steve Clarke’s side. The former Celtic and Liverpool youngster has spent much of the season on the sidelines for Bournemouth injured but has already shown the type of impact that he can have on the international scene with a scintillating destruction of Manchester City’s €90m man Josko Gvardiol while he also set up McTominay’s famous overhead kick against Denmark.

The end product of the 20-year-old has been questioned, but if he can get it right and if he is given the freedom, he is a player who can sparkle on the biggest stage.

Group D

USA: Folarin Balogun

USA head into the 2026 World Cup with huge expectations as co-hosts and Mauricio Pochettino is under massive pressure to guide them into the latter stages of the tournament.

Recent friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal have tempered expectations, while their 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the Gold Cup final last year is also a concern.

One player who was absent throughout the Gold Cup campaign was Folarin Balogun, due to injury, and he was a huge miss. The former Arsenal striker has nine goals in 26 USA caps and he will lead the line for Pochettino’s side this summer.

The 24-year-old found the back of the net on 19 occasions for AS Monaco last season, so he will be brimming with confidence heading into the tournament, and he will hope to dovetail nicely with star man Christian Pulisic.

Paraguay: Diego Gomez

If Paraguay are to progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup, it will be down to their defensive solidity, with Gustavo Alfaro’s side having conceded just 10 goals in 18 qualifying matches.

By contrast, they found the back of the net on only 14 occasions, and 13 of their fixtures saw one goal or fewer. It’s therefore clear how they will look to play: keep things tight.

While creative sparks such as Julio Enciso and Miguel Almiron may be able to unlock opposition defences, Paraguay will rely heavily on Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gomez at the tournament.

He enjoyed an excellent first full season at the AMEX Stadium, scoring 10 goals in 37 games, and he will be instrumental for Paraguay in their first World Cup since they reached the quarter-finals in 2010.

Australia: Mohamed Toure

After a dismal start to the 2025-26 season, Norwich City improved massively under new boss Philippe Clement, in part thanks to the superb January signing of Mohamed Toure.

He arrived from Danish side Randers and notched an eye-catching nine goals in just 11 Championship games, in addition to providing three assists. The 22-year-old has already scored two hat-tricks for Norwich and he therefore arrives at the World Cup in stellar form.

Australia aren’t expected to go far in North America, but Toure, who has two goals in nine international caps, will be pivotal if they are to progress beyond the group stage.

Turkey: Kenan Yildiz

Turkey’s squad for the 2026 World Cup is stacked with well-known players from the European scene and in Kenan Yildiz, they have one of the best attackers at the tournament.

Real Madrid superstar Arda Guler will likely be Turkey’s talisman in North America, however Yildiz is also set for a stellar few weeks and he arguably has a point to prove at international level.

The Juventus winger, who has been heavily linked with a Premier League move, failed to register a goal contribution at Euro 2024 and he only has five goals in 28 senior caps for his country.

The only issue is that he is currently nursing a calf strain, which could impact his possible involvement, but if he’s fully fit, Yildiz will be keen to make his mark.

Group E

Germany: Jamal Musiala

Jamal Musiala is a well-known commodity at this point, but the 23-year-old needs a big tournament as his career has stalled in recent times due to his injury problems. He missed half of 2025/26 with a broken fibula and hasn't quite been the same since his return to competitive action in January.

When he is fully fit and firing, Musiala is easily Germany's most naturally gifted player. The way he glides with the ball at his feet is a joy to watch, but we haven't seen much of it lately. There has even been some criticism of the attacking midfielder on social media, but given the length of his injury, it is only natural that the Bayern star has needed time to get back to his best.

The ideal way to silence his critics would be to put in the kind of performances everyone knows he is capable of on the biggest stage this summer. Germany are a mixed bag of a team - are they actually among the favourites or just mediocre? - but Musiala has the individual talent to raise the ceiling of Julian Nagelsmann's side as only a few other players can.

Curacao: Tahith Chong

A familiar name to anyone who watched Man Utd in 2018 and 2019 or the Netherlands Under-21s during the same period, the attacking midfielder is back in the international picture with Curacao, the country of his birth. The Curacao squad has a very Dutch feel to it with Dick Advocaat at the helm and many of its players plying their trade in the top two divisions in the Netherlands.

Many of the squad were also born in the Netherlands, including Miami FC forward Jürgen Locadia and former Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna. Chong moved to Holland when he was a child, but is now playing international football for Curacao after his senior international debut was blocked by the coronavirus pandemic. He scored twice against Bermuda as Curacao surprisingly topped their CONCACAF group and qualified for their first-ever World Cup.

Ivory Coast: Bazoumana Toure

Everyone will be watching Ivory Coast to see if Yan Diomande lives up to the hype. The RB Leipzig winger is being linked with Europe's elite and has a ridiculous price tag of up to €100m, but when neutral fans are tuning in to watch Diomande, they might get a surprise when they see fellow Ivorian attacker Bazoumana Toure in action.

Toure plays for the less-heralded Hoffenheim, but has been equally impactful in the Bundesliga as Diomande in 2025/26. TSG were one of Germany's biggest overachievers, only missing out on qualification for the Champions League by one point. Left winger Toure was crucial in that fifth-place finish as he provided 12 assists with his wand of a left foot.

Ecuador: Anthony Valencia

There's an A. Valencia in the Ecuador squad. But it’s not former Man Utd star Antonio. He's 40 now, so young enough to feature considering Cristiano Ronaldo and Craig Gordon are headed to North America, but he hasn't played club football in five years.

This A Valencia is a forward for Antwerp, and made his Ecuador debut this year aged 22. He also scored his first international goal in a friendly with Saudi Arabia and is a surprise inclusion after impressing in the final warm-up games. Veteran Enner Valencia will lead the line in Group E, but Antonio could be called upon to add some dynamism in the latter stages of games.

Group F

Netherlands: Guus Til

PSV demolished the competition this season to win their third Eredivisie in a row and 28-year-old Guus Til was one of the players of the season for the champions.

He's only made six competitive appearances for the Dutch national team which isn't wholly impressive at his age but he is coming off probably the best season of his career in which he scored 15 goals and recorded five assists in the Eredivisie.

Usually an attacking midfielder, he was used as a striker on occasions this campaign and he actually emerged as a very useful option up there as 10 of his goals came through the middle as a centre-forward.

There is plenty of competition for places in attack in the Netherlands squad, but his adaptability will certainly be useful for Ronald Koeman.

Japan: Daizen Maeda

Up until about three months ago, Daizen Maeda would have found himself lucky to be called up to the Japan squad as he was having a wretched season at Celtic, at least compared to his usual standards.

However, after the split in the Scottish Premiership, he turned into a man possessed and scored seven goals in five fixtures against Celtic's rivals in the top six, including title-chasers Hearts and Rangers.

In the Old Firm derby, he scored possibly the most memorable goal in that fixture since Henrik Larsson's famous chip with a quite outrageous overhead kick, while on the final day of the season his close-range poke proved decisive as Martin O'Neill's men won the title.

In the North American heat, his pace could prove an absolute nightmare for weary defenders.

Sweden: Taha Abdi Ali

Sweden are stacked with talent in attacking areas, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres two of the more heralded number nines set to compete in North America, while Anthony Elanga is a regular starter, too.

However, Graham Potter has a very useful option down the left-hand side in the form of Taha Abdi Ali.

Born in Stockholm to Somali parents who fled the civil war in the 1990s, his journey through local teams up to professional level and then on to winning the league twice in a row with Malmo is an inspiring one.

His minutes will indeed depend on the fitness of others in that squad, though.

Tunisia: Hannibal Mejbri

Tunisia are a disciplined team but there's a feeling they may need to be a bit more ambitious on the ball if they are to progress through a tough group this summer.

In qualifying, they remarkably didn't concede a single goal and although they scored 22, they usually find things tough on the world stage compared to competing against fellow African nations as they are yet to make it out of the group stage.

Hannibal Mejbri is the player who will likely shoulder the most responsibility within the Tunisia squad as he plays at the highest level in the Premier League, albeit with a relegated side in Burnley.

Good in possession and hugely aggressive, his performances will be key to qualification.

Group G

Belgium: Jeremy Doku

Having conjured up several moments of magic in the final few weeks of the Premier League season for Manchester City, Jeremy Doku is heading into his second World Cup in great spirits.

And that could not be more timely for a Belgium side who have concerns in attack, with Romelu Lukaku having barely featured for Napoli this season while Charles De Ketelaere scored just five goals for Atalanta.

Rudi Garcia’s side are also hoping Doku - who scored five times in qualifying - can take the pressure off a defence lacking Zeno Debast from the get go, with their key centre-back having made the squad despite struggling with a thigh injury.

Egypt: Omar Marmoush

After dipping in and out of the Man City team this season due to a knee injury, while also facing the cruel reality that it is impossible to usurp Erling Haaland on a regular basis, Omar Marmoush is looking to put himself in the spotlight.

And there is no better platform for him to do so as the 27-year-old prepares to lead the line for an Egypt side who are looking to end their long wait to win a match at the World Cup for the first time.

If Marmoush impresses for the AFCON semi-finalists, the forward should attract plenty of suitors at club level - a result which could provide a path for a man whose career is seemingly at a crossroads.

Iran: Mohammad Mohebi

Despite scoring eight times in qualifying, the outspoken Sardar Azmoun has not made Iran’s World Cup squad, meaning manager Amir Ghalenoei is searching for somebody to share the attacking burden with Mehdi Taremi.

And that player is most likely going to be Mohammad Mohebi - a winger who plies his trade with Russian side FC Rostov and scored five goals in qualifying as Team Melli reached the World Cup in unbeaten fashion.

While Mohebi boasts a terrific goalscoring record for Iran, having netted 14 times in 36 caps, he is yet to grace the World Cup stage - something which will give him extra hunger to perform.

New Zealand: Elijah Just

On the back of a superb season which saw him score seven goals and record as many assists for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell, Elijah Just is hoping to replicate that form at the World Cup for New Zealand.

With four goals in qualifying, the winger helped fire the All Whites - who will be the only Oceania representative in North America - to their first World Cup since South Africa 2010, where they drew all three of their group games.

As captain Chris Wood continues to ease his way back to full fitness, New Zealand are counting on Just in their quest to secure a maiden victory at the World Cup, with clashes against Iran and Egypt to come in their opening two fixtures.

Group H

Spain: Alex Baena

Atletico Madrid attacker Alex Baena will have a point to prove at the World Cup. He is coming off a disappointing first season in the Spanish capital, but he has seen regular minutes for La Roja due to Nico Williams’ persistent injury problems over the past 12 months.

With Williams and Lamine Yamal again dealing with fitness concerns, the onus will be on Baena to step up and show that he really is a €42 million player. He is not a natural left-winger - and it shows - but he will have to suck it up and get on with it if Spain are to mount a credible title challenge.

Cape Verde: Dailon Livramento

One of the biggest underdogs at the World Cup, Cape Verde will once again have to upset the odds - as they already did in qualifying - if they want to avoid getting bounced from the group stage. To do so, striker Dailon Livramento will have to be at the top of his game.

Incredibly, the Rotterdam-born attacker has enjoyed a better goalscoring season for his country than for his club. He scored two decisive goals in qualifying last year and also netted in a friendly against Chile in March. By contrast, he didn’t score a single time for Casa Pia in Portugal, where he spent the campaign on loan from Hellas Verona.

Saudi Arabia: Salem Al-Dawsari

It is likely to be one last dance for Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who is set to compete at his third World Cup with Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old has made over a century of appearances for the Green Falcons, and his finals record is not too shabby. He has scored three goals in six World Cup outings.

He will again have to star for his team if the Saudis are to make a lasting impression on this summer’s tournament. The Saudis are in a tough group, with the late sacking of Herve Renard and subsequent appointment of Georgios Donis not making the task at hand any easier.

Uruguay: Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez had the world at his feet when he left Benfica for Liverpool in 2022, but four years on, he is effectively playing to salvage his top-level career. The striker left the Reds for Al-Hilal last year, but he will again be on the move this summer after being deregistered from the Saudi side’s Pro League squad in February.

Nunez has only been able to play continental and international games since, so the World Cup is coming at just the right time for him. It is the perfect opportunity to put himself in the shop window. Helping Uruguay make a deep run - like at the 2024 Copa America - will boost Nunez’s chances of securing a transfer to a top European side.

Group I

France: Michael Olise

France travel to North America with a highly experienced squad, but Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise will be sampling a major tournament for the first time in his career. He does so having emerged as one of the truly elite players in the world game after a stellar campaign with the Bundesliga side.

Perhaps the biggest question that the 24-year-old former Crystal Palace player will have to answer is how he can dovetail effectively with Kylian Mbappe, who remains France’s clear star.

Les Bleus are likely to be faced with deep-lying defences, and his dribbling and shooting ability from the edge of the area could provide the 2022 runners-up with a precious key to break down stubborn opponents.

Senegal: Lamine Camara

This Senegal team is packed with talent, as was made evident as they (probably) won AFCON earlier this year. Lamine Camara is a real standout prospect for the Lions of Tarranga. Aged only 22, the Monaco central midfielder has distinguished himself in Ligue 1 over the course of the last season and is now primed for a big summer move.

Liverpool are reportedly attracted to him and will be keeping a keen eye on his progress. Andoni Iraola’s side believe that he provides the type of intensity that they missed during the last season. Expect that to be on display even amid the testing climate he will face.

Iraq: Ali Jasim

Ali Jasim has spent the last year playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Najma, where he scored three goals. The 22-year-old was in Saudi on loan from Como and has top-flight European experience both in Italy and in the Netherlands, where he previously turned out for Almere City on a previous temporary deal.

His main asset is his dribbling ability, yet what will be priceless for Iraq as they come up against strong opponents in the form of France, Norway and Senegal is his defensive qualities. In particular, he was outstanding at forcing transitions last season in Saudi and this could be a vital quality at the World Cup.

Norway: Julian Ryerson

Erling Haaland will get the attention because of the overwhelming goal threat that he poses, but one of the key figures in this side will be Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson.

Norway’s squad is exceptionally young, so Ryerson at the age of 28 and with 42 caps will be expected to bring a good deal of experience to the side. He will also be expected to provide an attacking threat down his flank.

This will be an opportunity that the former Union Berlin star will relish. Not only will he play his first major tournament after a meteoric rise in recent years, his father was born in the USA, giving him extra motivation to perform.

And if that wasn’t enough, Manchester United have been linked with a possible summer transfer for him.

Group J

Argentina: Nico Paz

While everyone's eyes will be on the likes of Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez with regards to Argentina this summer, Lionel Scaloni is able to call upon numerous exciting backups in forward areas.

It's likely Alvarez, Messi and Thiago Almada will start in the front three but Como's Nico Paz will be given some game time and you'll need to simply just sit and enjoy this youngster's talent.

Signed by the Italian side from Real Madrid, it is looking very likely that Los Blancos will exercise their buy-back clause to bring the attacking midfielder back to the Spanish capital after the World Cup.

He's coming off a season as Como's star player, scoring 12 goals and recording seven assists from midfield as the small Italian club qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Algeria: Mohamed Amoura

Mohamed Amoura has just finished a tough season with Wolfsburg that saw the team relegated from the German Bundesliga, even if he did contribute to the cause with an admirable return of eight goals in 30 appearances.

This is an opportunity for the striker to put himself in the shop window and earn a move to a reputable club as there has already been reports of a mass exodus at Wolfsburg following relegation.

He heads into the World Cup as the top scorer in CAF qualifying with 10 goals to his name and with the likes of Riyad Mahrez providing ammunition, he will fancy himself to get on the scoresheet in the group stage.

Austria: David Alaba

David Alaba has been one of the best defenders around, at left-back or at centre-back, for the past 10 years in Europe but after a series of injuries at Real Madrid, he now finds himself at a career crossroads.

In December of 2023, he suffered an ACL injury that ruled him out of action for 13 months, eventually returning for Madrid in January of 2025 and in his absence the team simply moved on as other centre-backs were bought or emerged, while niggling injuries kept interfering with a full recovery.

It has been confirmed that he will leave Madrid at the conclusion of his contract this summer which means he'll be campaigning to get signed by another elite club, which will likely be the final big move of his career.

Despite his injury struggles, he is still Austria's talisman but it remains to be seen how many minutes he'll manage.

Jordan: Musa Al-Taamari

Since Jordan will likely be pinned back by heavyweight opponents in Group J, they’ll need someone who can turn defence into attack in seconds and that's exactly what Musa Al-Taamari can do with his electric pace.

Fresh off a brilliant season with Stade Rennais in France where he racked up six goals and nine assists, he’s used to dealing with elite opposition every week which stands him out among the majority of his team-mates in this Jordan squad.

A history-maker, he became the first Jordanian to score in a top five league when he found the back of the net for Montpellier back in 2023, while his performances were key as the nation reached their first-ever Asian Cup final in 2023.

Group K

Portugal: Rafael Leao

Okay, yes, all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo this summer as the Portugal captain plays in potentially his final World Cup in the hope of finally lifting the trophy and brushing off the ‘well at least Lionel Messi won it’ debate.

But beyond Ronaldo, Portugal have a truly stacked team on paper containing back-to-back Champions League winners like Joao Neves and Vitinha as well as new Premier League assist record-maker Bruno Fernandes, so there may not be a true ‘one to watch’ that the world isn’t already vastly familiar with.

However, of all players, the pressure will be on Rafael Leao to succeed after the forward announced his desire to leave Milan this summer, with many viewing the 26-year-old as someone who flatters to deceive and who never fulfilled his potential.

Leao will have competition to even start for Portugal but he will be desperate to prove to everyone what he can do and secure a big money transfer in the summer or risk cementing his legacy as a ‘what could have been’ YouTube highlights merchant.

DR Congo: Noah Sadiki

The Democratic Republic of Congo make their return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence keen to impress as one of 10 representatives from Africa.

While DR Congo will be relying on the goals of Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu to carry them out of Group B, arguably their most exciting player is Noah Sadiki after an exceptional debut campaign in the Premier League where he led Sunderland to European qualification in their first season back in the top flight.

Sadiki is already attracting transfer attention following his impressive performances in midfield for the Black Cats and the 21-year-old is a key player for DR Congo who could elevate his profile further in North America after a rise to stardom in the last 12 months.

Uzbekistan: Abdukodir Khusanov

Uzbekistan are the first Central Asian team to ever qualify for the World Cup and will be in experienced hands under the management of Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to victory in the 2006 tournament.

The vast majority of Uzbekistan’s players are based in Asia, with only Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov playing his club football in mainland Europe, and the 21-year-old will be shouldering the hopes of his entire country at a young age.

Khusanov is not just Uzbekistan’s star player but also a cultural icon who is considered one of the most famous people to ever come out of the country and, while the pressure will be immense on the youngster, the City man has proven he is capable of putting on a good show for his nation, even if they aren’t expected to achieve much this summer.

Colombia: Luis Diaz

Colombia are still chasing the high of the 2014 World Cup where they reached a best-ever position as quarter-finalists thanks to a breakout tournament from then-wonderkid James Rodriguez, who is now the country’s veteran captain that will lead them into the 2026 edition.

After a round-of-16 finish in 2018, Colombia failed to qualify in 2022 but they are full of confidence this time around knowing that they have one of the strongest performers in world football in Luis Diaz, fresh from his breathtaking debut season for Bayern Munich where he provided more than 30 goal contributions.

Diaz is Colombia’s best player and the 29-year-old has scored goals at every level, with the former Liverpool man likely to star again for his country and hopefully give them new memories to hold onto for the future.

Group L

England: Morgan Rogers

England’s squad is littered with world-class talent and they are certainly one of the favourites for glory after reaching the last two European Championship finals. They fell short against France at the quarter-final stage in 2018 and Thomas Tuchel has been tasked with ending their 60-year wait for a major trophy this summer.

Most neutrals would expect Jude Bellingham to be the main man behind Harry Kane, but Morgan Rogers started five of England’s eight qualifying matches and while he only has one goal for his country to date, he is evidently adored by Tuchel.

The Aston Villa man is coming off an excellent season at club level, but he will need to be in the form of his life to keep Bellingham out of the starting XI and the No.10 position for England is therefore hugely intriguing heading into the tournament.

Croatia

Croatia’s golden generation just refuse to quit and they head into the tournament still blessed by the presence of ageing stars Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Mateo Kovacic.

Ante Budimir also falls into that category at 34 years of age, but he is arguably in the form of his life right now. The veteran striker netted 17 goals in 37 La Liga games for struggling Osasuna last season, who only avoided relegation on goal difference, and the wily old fox is certainly one to watch.

He’s not a guaranteed starter for Croatia, amid competition from Andrej Kramaric and Petar Musa, but he will definitely be utilised throughout the tournament and he doesn’t need a second invitation in front of goal.

Ghana: Antoine Semenyo

Antoine Semenyo is the clear star of this Ghana team and he will be crucial if they are to progress through a difficult looking Group L.

He has reached a superstar level since moving to Manchester City in January and with 27 goals and assists in 48 games last season, Semenyo will be the main attacker in a Ghana team that failed to qualify for the most recent AFCON.

Remarkably, he has only scored three goals in 34 senior caps for his country and that is something that he will be desperate to amend, having failed to find the back of the net in a Ghana shirt since last March.

Panama

Panama have only appeared at one World Cup finals, in 2018, and they lost all three group stage matches by an aggregate score of 11-2.

Their form heading into this tournament is also fairly unknown, given the three best teams in CONCACAF qualifying - Mexico, Canada and USA - all weren’t involved by virtue of being host nations. Their squad has very little star quality and they are huge underdogs in Group L, but that is a status that will likely suit their preferred style of play.

Dynamic attacker Jose Luis Rodriguez will be one of their main threats in forward areas. The 27-year-old winger is an excellent dribbler and he currently plies his trade for FC Juarez in Mexico, so he won’t be affected by the climate at the tournament.

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Written by

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.

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