11 Best Players Qualified for Their First World Cup (Ranked)

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is poised to be the greatest tournament in footballing history, with a record 48 nations competing for the illustrious golden trophy.

What makes next summer’s upcoming tournament so special, is the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be the first with an expanded format, meaning that fans of the beautiful game will get to witness even more of the world’s best in action in North America.

Argentina, spearheaded by Lionel Messi, are the reigning champions following their dramatic victory over France at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, in those four years, several young talents who did not feature in Qatar have risen to footballing prominence, and are set to make their make when the World Cup kicks-off in June.

Here, GIVEMESPORT runs through the 11 best players who will be playing in their first World Cup in the 2026 tournament, looking to knock the Inter Miami star off his perch.

Ranking Factors

• Career stats
• Team they play for
• Ability (especially for players currently sidelined by injury)
• Trophies won/

11

Nick Woltemade

Germany

Nick Woltemade has been in fine form since arriving at Newcastle United from Stuttgart in the summer window, for a club-record £69m, both on the club front under Eddie Howe and for his German national team.

In the Premier League, Woltemade has scored four goals in eight outings, and has been in even more impressive form in the World Cup qualifiers for Germany, scoring four goals and assisting once in just six appearances.

23-year-old Woltemade only made his senior debut for Germany back in June, but has already proven himself to be an important component of Julian Nagelsmann’s attack with his brace against Luxembourg this month in the qualification rounds, and the 6’6″ frontman will be a handful for defences to deal with in North America next summer for his first World Cup tournament.

10

Abdukodir Khusanov

Uzbekistan

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov was Uzbekistan’s star player in their maiden qualification for the global footballing tournament, despite being dismissed in their recent draw with Iran, which his nation won 4-3 on penalties.

21-year-old Khusanov has seven appearances under Pep Guardiola to his name so far this season, taking his tally to 16 for City since signing from RC Lens in January, and he has solidified himself as one of the most prominent defensive talents in European football.

The City starlet will be imperative if Uzbekistan, now under the tutelage of 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, are to progress out of the group stage in their first-ever World Cup tournament.

9

Pau Cubarsi

Spain

18-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was just a schoolboy when Spain were beaten in the round of 16 by Morocco in the 2022 World Cup, but the youngster will be intent on improving that feat next summer.

After being promoted from the Barça youth ranks in 2024, the glossy centre-back has cemented himself as one of the best young central defenders in European football under Hansi Flick, playing 56 times across all competitions last season as the Catalonians won La Liga and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

In his most recent outing for Spain, Cubarsi helped his nation to a 4-0 win over Georgia by enjoying the best passing accuracy (98%) of any player to play 45 minutes or more, showcasing that he is the ideal heir to Spain’s central defensive throne.

8

Joao Neves

Portugal

21-year-old PSG midfielder Joao Neves is another supreme young talent set to feature in his first World Cup tournament, and his national team boss Roberto Martinez will be hoping to see the central midfielder continue his exhilarating form into the summer.

So far this season, Neves has four goals in six games for the French champions, and was imperative to their Club World Cup venture in the summer with three goal contributions in seven outings, which ended in a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Most recently for his nation, Neves scored a hat-trick in a 9-0 rout over Armenia, and his presence in the engine room will be imperative for the 2016 European championship winners to be in contention for glory at the 2026 World Cup.

7

Estevao

Brazil

Unfortunately for Neves, next on the list is Brazilian starlet Estevao, whose parent club Chelsea beat the Parisiens in the US last summer.

After arriving at Stamford Bridge from Palmeiras in the summer, the 18-year-old winger has been in exciting form for Enzo Maresca’s side, notching five goal contributions from his first 16 games in a Chelsea jersey.

Similar to Cubarsi, Estevao was just 14 when his country were knocked out of the previous World Cup in Qatar, following their defeat on penalties to Croatia.

Within the latest international break, Estevao scored in friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, and will be desperate to play a role in Carlo Ancelotti’s side stealing the crown from their South American rivals in the summer.

6

Florian Wirtz

Germany

They say in football that ‘form is temporary, but class is permanent’, and Liverpool summer signing Florian Wirtz will be desperate to prove so for Germany next summer.

After arriving at Anfield for a staggering £116m fee from Bayer Leverkusen, the German playmaker has struggled for form since moving to the Premier League, failing to score or assist in his first 11 top flight appearances thus far.

Reigning champions Liverpool currently sit eighth in the Premier League, and may have realistically lost hope of retaining their top flight title given the eight-point gap between themselves and leaders Arsenal.

Therefore, the 22-year-old, who was not on the plane to Qatar in 2022, will be hoping to right the wrongs of his 2025/26 season for his country in the summer.

5

Elliot Anderson

England

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson was in the Scotland youth ranks at the time of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, in which England were beaten by France 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Since then, Newcastle United academy graduate Anderson has pledged his national allegiance to the Three Lions, and cemented himself as one of the best young midfielders in world football after joining Forest in the summer of 2024.

As a result of his fine form, Manchester United have placed Anderson at the top of their transfer shortlist, but will need to pay upwards of £100m to secure the 23-year-old’s signature in the summer window.

In his maiden senior international tournament, Thomas Tuchel will be hoping to see the dynamic midfielder continue his impressive form from England’s qualifying campaign into the 2026 World Cup.

4

Luis Diaz

Colombia

Despite establishing himself as one of European football’s most prolific wingers, the 2026 World Cup will be Colombian Luis Diaz’s debut outing in the tournament.

The Bayern Munich forward, who has six goals and four assists in ten Bundesliga outings so far this season for the German champions, helped his Colombian compatriots to secure World Cup qualification with a 3-0 win over Bolivia back in September.

As quoted by the Bundesliga, Diaz said after Colombia’s qualification:

Since Colombia sealed their spot, the 28-year-old has continued his emphatic form both domestically and for his nation, ending the World Cup qualifiers with seven goals and three assists in 17 outings, and the former Liverpool star will be hoping to continue those exploits in North America this summer.

3

Cole Palmer

England

Cole Palmer has established himself as one of the finest attacking midfielders in European football, and will be desperate to help his England teammates end their 60-year wait for World Cup triumph.

Palmer’s game-time for Chelsea and England has been hampered by injury so far this season, but his attacking output was staggering last season, which was capped off with his emphatic display in his side’s 3-0 win over PSG in the Club World Cup final.

Now 23, Palmer was a crucial part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2024 Euros, scoring England’s equaliser against Spain after coming on as a substitute before suffering a 2-1 defeat to the eventual winners.

In 2026, the former Man City starlet will be desperate to go one better with his Three Lions teammates.

2

Lamine Yamal

Spain

At the 2024 Euros, it was Spain and Lamine Yamal who tasted victory at the expense of England, in a tournament which highlighted to the footballing world just how special the Barcelona superstar is.

Yamal assisted Nico Williams’ strike in the final, and was awarded Young Player of the Tournament for his exploits despite being just 16-years-old.

Since then, the spell-bounding Spaniard has become one of the world’s elite players, with many feeling he can go on to rival his Barcelona predecessor Messi.

The 18-year-old enters his first World Cup tournament in excellent form for Barcelona, and will inevitably play an imperative role if the 2010 World Cup winners are to hoist the golden trophy once again.