The 2026 World Cup is finally here, with the biggest nations on the planet battling it out for football’s biggest prize.
This latest edition in the United States, Mexico and Canada sees a whopping 48 nations compete for the very first time, expanding from the 32-team format we’ve been used to since 1998.
Those 16 extra slots have resulted in a host of nations qualifying who haven’t competed on this stage for decades, if at all. That means some huge stars of the game will be making their World Cup debuts this summer, as will those from more established nations who were injured or not yet on the international scene in 2022.
Here, we’ve picked 10 of the biggest such names, alongside a host of honourable mentions who simply had to be acknowledged.
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Erling Haaland
- Nation: Norway
- Caps/goals: 50/55
From Ryan Giggs to George Best, there have been some monumental names to have missed out on experiencing the World Cup due to playing for smaller nations. For Erling Haaland to have joined that list would have been unthinkable.
Norway didn’t even need the expanded format to qualify, though, finishing top of Group I with a perfect record, including beating Italy 3-0 and 4-1. Haaland was the fuel to that Scandinavian fire, netting a whopping 16 goals — at least twice as many as any other player in Uefa qualifying. Now, the Manchester City star will look to add to his 55 goals in just 50 caps to take Norway as far as possible in their first World Cup since 1998.
Lamine Yamal
- Nation: Spain
- Caps/goals: 25/6
A less surprising name on this list, Lamine Yamal was just 15 years old when the last World Cup took place in Qatar. He’s still only 18 now, but such has been his rise that the teenager carries the vast majority of Spain‘s hopes of adding a second World Cup title to their ever-expanding trophy cabinet.
Yamal was one of La Roja‘s stars as they won Euro 2024, proving he can provide for his country on the biggest stage. He could be one of the defining players this summer. And again, he’s just 18 years old!
Desire Doue
- Nation: France
- Caps/goals: 7/2
Desire Doue has gone from Rennes prospect to Paris Saint-Germain irreplaceable in break-neck speed, winning two Champions League titles during that journey.
However, the 21-year-old forward’s international career is yet to catch up, with Doue entering this tournament with just seven caps to his name.
Doué recently got off the mark for France, scoring a brace in a 3-1 friendly win over Colombia in March. However, he arrives in North America with a big point to prove.
Florian Wirtz
- Nation: Germany
- Caps/goals: 41/11
Florian Wirtz was cruelly robbed of a place at the 2022 World Cup due to an ACL injury. However, he came back in style from that setback, winning an unbeaten domestic double with Bayer Leverkusen, scoring twice at Euro 2024, and earning a big move to Liverpool.
It was a tough first season in the Premier League for Wirtz, but Germany will be reliant on him this summer, and he more than has the talent to carry that pressure.
Gabriel Magalhaes
- Nation: Brazil
- Caps/goals: 17/1
Gabriel has just completed his sixth — and by far most successful — year at Arsenal, once again bringing his set-piece prowess to help the Gunners win the Premier League title.
However, it’s only been in the last couple of years that he’s truly established himself as an elite centre-back, and that shows in the fact that Gabriel has just 17 caps for Brazil. The 28-year-old made his senior debut in 2023, months after the last World Cup.
Marc Guehi
- Nation: England
- Caps/goals: 27/1
Marc Guehi picked up a couple of caps just before the 2022 World Cup, but never made Gareth Southgate’s final squad. Since then, however, he’s been absolutely indispensable.
Now a domestic cup double winner with Man City, Guehi was England‘s most consistent player in their run to the Euro 2024 final and will be charged with locking down the defence once again.
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Joao Neves
- Nation: Portugal
- Caps/goals: 21/3
Like Doue, Joao Neves has gone from strength to strength with PSG and is now a vital part of their back-to-back Champions League-winning side.
The 21-year-old has now established himself at national team level, too, locking down the Portugal midfield with Bruno Fernandes and PSG teammate Vitinha. He’s one part of a fearsome Selecao triumvirate.
Alexander Isak
- Nation: Sweden
- Caps/goals: 58/17
Sweden missed out on Qatar 2022, and are very lucky to have made this tournament after finishing bottom of their qualification group with just two points from six games – scraping through via the Nations League playoffs.
However, that gives Alexander Isak the chance to prove himself on the international stage. It was a wretched first season at Liverpool for Isak, who suffered a fibula fracture and scored just four goals all season.
Michael Olise
- Nation: France
- Caps/goals: 17/7
Michael Olise has been a force of nature since joining Bayern Munich in 2024, and his form in Bavaria has seen him break into the French national team.
Olise made his debut shortly after Euro 2024, has seven goals in 17 caps so far, and looks set to dovetail off the likes of Doue, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in a terrifying French attack. And we haven’t even mentioned Rayan Cherki or Bradley Barcola!
Luis Diaz
- Nation: Colombia
- Caps/goals: 73/22
Given their exploits in 2014 and 2018, Colombia were a huge casualty at the 2022 World Cup, but they’re back on the biggest stage this time around.
As a result, former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz will get his chance to test himself among the international elite. Diaz notched a massive 26 goals and 19 assists in 51 appearances during his debut campaign with Bayern Munich, forming a devastating attack alongside Olise and Harry Kane.
Honourable mentions: Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, Arda Guler, Hakan Calhanoglu, Martin Odegaard, Yoane Wissa, Abdukodir Khusanov, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Ryan Gravenberch, Micky van de Ven, Viktor Gyokeres, David Raya, Fabian Ruiz, Marc Cucurella, Bradley Barcola, Reece James, Pau Cubarsi, Ousmane Diomande, Ricardo Pepi, Kobbie Mainoo, Nico O’Reilly, Nico Paz, Elliot Anderson, Endrick, Kenan Yildiz, Nico O’Reilly
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