With the final 26-man squads officially confirmed by FIFA on 2 June, the 2026 World Cup is now close enough to touch: 48 teams, 1,248 players and 104 matches spread across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Of those players, 891 are heading to the finals for the first time, which is one reason this tournament feels tailor-made for a new generation to explode into the mainstream.
This is not really about the already-established global attractions. Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe may dominate the posters, but the World Cup has always been just as powerful a stage for players who arrive with intrigue rather than certainty. Here are seven who will head to North America hoping to leave with a very different reputation from the one they have now.
Desire Doue: France’s next attacking superstar
Desire Doue already looks like he belongs at elite level, but the World Cup could be the tournament that turns him from exciting talent into unavoidable headline act. The French attacker could be the new talisman of French football, he has versatility, creativity and a habit of producing in major moments, including a brace in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League final and the FIFA Best Young Player award at the 2025 Club World Cup.
What makes Doue especially fascinating is that France do not need him — which is exactly why he could be so dangerous. Didier Deschamps has included him in a loaded squad alongside Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Barcola, yet Doue’s two-goal showing in France’s 3-1 win over Colombia in March offered a glimpse of how quickly he can take over a game. If France go deep, he may start the tournament as a brilliant option and end it as one of its defining faces.
Pau Cubarsi: The teenager who could own the biggest stage
Centre-backs rarely become breakout stars at a World Cup, but Pau Cubarsi has the profile to change that. FIFA’s wonderkid series points out that the Spain and Barcelona defender has already racked up more than 135 senior appearances for Barça, started both legs of a Champions League semi-final, and established himself as one of the most polished young defenders in Europe while still only 19.
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