Global newcomers poised to influence the 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane … the most renowned figures in soccer will take center stage at the 2026 World Cup this summer as 48 teams compete for the title.

However, aside from these well-known players, who are the emerging talents on the international stage that could significantly influence the outcome of the trophy in July?

We have analyzed the potential squads and identified a selection of players who are poised to play a crucial role in the tournament or possibly make an impact from the bench, yet have accumulated 10 caps or fewer for their national teams thus far.

– Who are the top U21 men’s players globally?
– USMNT big board: Is Pochettino’s squad already finalized?
– World Cup kit ranking: Every jersey we will see this summer (released so far)
– O’Hanlon: Ranking all 48 national teams at this year’s World Cup

STARTERS

Elliot Anderson, CM, England – 7 caps

Key stat: Holds the third-highest number of tackles and interceptions (90) in the Premier League this season.

There is little uncertainty regarding who Declan Rice’s primary central midfield partner will be for England this summer. Anderson has had two outstanding seasons with Nottingham Forest and has effortlessly carried that performance into the national team.

Even with only seven caps to his credit, he exudes an experienced and reliable presence in the midfield. His overall game is exceptionally robust — he is dynamic and defensively engaged, while also being adept at managing a high volume of passes in a controlled possession framework. It is no surprise that he has been frequently linked with summer transfer moves to Manchester City and Manchester United.

Luka Vuskovic, CB, Croatia – 4 caps

Key stat: He boasts a 75.3% win rate in aerial duels in the Bundesliga.

“Vuskovic is not normal.” This was the verdict of Croatian media following the 19-year-old’s man of the match display against Colombia last week. There is an increasing demand not only to include him in the World Cup squad but also to designate him as a regular starter.

He excels at every challenge presented to him. Currently on loan at Hamburg from Tottenham Hotspur, he has already been awarded “Bundesliga Young Player of the Month” four times this season and edged out Kane for the Bundesliga’s “Player of the Year so far” accolade in January. His initial appearances for the senior national team have also been impressive.

Luis Suárez, ST, Colombia – 10 caps

Key stat: He has netted 24 goals in 25 league matches for Sporting CP this season.

The last time Colombia participated in a World Cup (2018), their attacking lineup featured Radamel Falcao, Carlos Bacca, and Luis Muriel. All three have since retired from international play, resulting in a very different attacking dynamic for Los Cafeteros this time around.

At the forefront appears to be Suárez, who has experienced a remarkable rise in 2025-26. He was the choice of Sporting CP to replace Arsenal-bound Viktor Gyökeres and has responded with an impressive tally of 24 goals in 25 league matches thus far. He has scored four goals in 10 appearances for the national team and has moved ahead of Jhon Durán in the selection hierarchy.

Nico O’Reilly, LB, England – 3 caps

Key stat: He has won the highest number of duels (132) for Manchester City in the Premier League.

<pRegardless of the formation manager Thomas Tuchel opts for, England's defense is set to appear notably inexperienced.

This is exemplified by the fact that O’Reilly, with just three caps and having played left back for only about a year, is likely to play a significant role on the left side. He has thrived under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and merits this opportunity, feeling confident about surpassing Tino Livramento (five caps) and Lewis Hall (four caps) for the starting position.

ROTATION

Deniz Undav, ST, Germany – 7 caps

Key stat: Only Bayern striker Kane (31) has more goals in the Bundesliga than Undav’s 18 for VfB Stuttgart.

Undav is the most instinctive striker and finisher in Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann’s plans, ranking just behind Kane in the Golden Boot race.

He may not start many, if any, matches for Germany this summer — Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade are ahead of him in the selection order — but he provides a distinct option off the bench and could fulfill a significant super-sub role.

Nico Paz, AM, Argentina – 8 caps

Key stat: He has 16 goal contributions in Serie A this season.

At 38 years old, Lionel Messi can only manage so many minutes at the highest level. Others will need to step in and support him — whether as a starter or a substitute — and currently, the most likely candidate seems to be Paz.

The 21-year-old is having an outstanding, Player of the Season-worthy campaign in Serie A with Como. He is a creative, intelligent, and inventive attacking midfielder who also excels in set-piece situations.

Tomás Araújo, CB, Portugal – 3 caps

Key stat: He has committed only six fouls in 20 Primeira Liga matches.

Araújo is experiencing a genuine breakout season with Benfica, where he has surpassed former wonderkid António Silva to secure a consistent position in José Mourinho’s starting lineup. If the Eagles avoid defeat in their final seven league matches, they will achieve a remarkable unbeaten season.

This success has garnered the 23-year-old attention at the international level, and he has made a positive initial impression. With Rúben Dias struggling with injuries in 2026, there is growing confidence in Portugal that Araújo could be fast-tracked into a significant defensive role this summer.

Dean Huijsen, CB, Spain – 7 caps

Key stat: He made 11.38 passes into the final third per game — the third-most in LaLiga this season.

The foundation of Spain’s playing style is possession, making it crucial to have proficient passers in the defensive line. Huijsen certainly fits this mold; he can circulate the ball effectively, deliver passes into advanced areas, and even undertake intricate dribbles.

However, competition for his position is intense, with the experienced Aymeric Laporte seemingly securing one center back slot, leaving Huijsen to compete with Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí for the other. The reality is they will likely share the role, given the number of matches Spain anticipates playing.

Igor Thiago and João Pedro, ST, Brazil – 7 and 2 caps, respectively

Key stat: They rank as the second and third top goal scorers in the Premier League with 19 and 14 goals, respectively.

Carlo Ancelotti is recognized for deploying tactically versatile, attacking teams, making Pedro a natural choice up front for this iteration of Brazil. He has evolved as a goal scorer while also excelling at linking play, making him an excellent option alongside Matheus Cunha in attack.

Then there is Thiago, who netted his first goal for his country on Tuesday in just his second appearance. He is a larger, more traditional option, and there is always a place for that. How Ancelotti navigates between his No. 9 choices will be intriguing.

Hugo Ekitike, ST, France – 8 caps

Key stat: He has 23 goals and assists across all competitions in his debut season for Liverpool.

France’s forward line is rich in depth, and with global stars (like Kylian Mbappé) and reigning Champions League winners (like Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué) in the mix, it can be challenging to secure playing time.

This may explain why a player of Ekitike’s caliber has been utilized so sparingly by his national team thus far, but he is in good form and appears poised to secure a place in the squad. From that point? The unpredictability of a tournament can lead to unexpected outcomes.

SHOCK CALL-UPS

Lennart Karl, AM, Germany – 2 caps

Key stat: He has 13 goal contributions in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Karl’s breakout season with Bayern has led to an international call-up and a late push for a spot in the World Cup squad. He made his debut for Germany during this window and left a strong impression.

Paul Wanner & Carney Chukwuemeka, CM, Austria – 2 caps each

Key stat: Wanner has 4 goal contributions in 14 league starts on loan at PSV; Chukwuemeka scored on his Austria debut.

Two promising prospects, from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively, have committed to Austria and earned their first caps in March. They are clearly focused on this summer’s tournament.

Rayan, FW, Brazil – 1 cap

Key stat: He has 0.4 goal contributions per game played, the fifth-most among Brazilian-born players in the Premier League this season.

Rayan has had an impressive 2026. In January, he transitioned from Vasco da Gama to the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth, and now he has made his debut for Brazil. He is on the cusp of Ancelotti’s squad and may yet secure a World Cup position.

Max Dowman, FW, England – Uncapped

Key stat: He is the youngest-ever goal scorer in the Premier League (16 years, 73 days).

Tuchel opted not to call up Dowman in March, following the 16-year-old’s standout performance in Arsenal’s recent 2-0 victory over Everton. However, he did not dismiss the possibility of including him for the World Cup, and there remains a chance that could happen if the teenager continues to impress during the Premier League title run-in. Yet, he has not even played for the U21s… he has nine caps for the U19s and recently scored a stunning goal against Portugal.

Senny Mayulu, CM, France – Uncapped

Key stat: He has 10 goal contributions in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Didier Deschamps is known for his cautious approach to selections, which is why Mayulu has yet to earn a cap for France despite having scored in a Champions League final and enjoying a breakout season at PSG. Nevertheless, he could still gain the veteran coach’s confidence.