The star of each nation: these are the players set to shine for every team at the 2026 World Cup

The US, Mexico and Canada World Cup 2026 brings together the best players on the planet. A constellation of stars led by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both at their sixth World Cup. Yet the Argentine and the Portuguese are not the only elite players set to feature. Mbappé, Kane, Modrić, Haaland and Lamine Yamal will also be there, the latter at his first World Cup.

• All 48 team rosters for the 2026 World Cup

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czech Republic

Gilberto Mora, at just 17, is tipped to be one of Mexico’s next big stars at the World Cup.

Ronwen Williams, the 34-year-old goalkeeper, is South Africa’s most high-profile player.

Son Heung-min is a true South Korea legend as he heads into the final stretch of his career at 33.

Patrik Schick is Czech Republic’s main goal threat and their most internationally recognized player.

Group B: Canada, Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland

Alphonso Davies is already an institution in Canadian soccer. The Bayern player is the great star of one of the World Cup hosts.

Time passes, but there are almost no superlatives left for Edin Džeko. The veteran striker is the leader of a Bosnia team that knocked Italy out.

Akram Afif is Qatar’s best player, the one with the most class and the strongest international pedigree.

Granit Xhaka is a Switzerland legend. He is the country’s most-capped player and, at 33, is playing some of the best soccer of his career.

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland

Vinícius Júnior is Brazil moving to the rhythm of samba and funk. The Real Madrid player is, on merit, the great star of Carlo Ancelotti’s Canarinha.

Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 African Ballon d’Or winner, PSG full-back and Morocco captain, is the clearest example of the competitive leap made by the African nation.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde combines endless energy with drive. The Wolves midfielder is Haiti’s heart and lungs.

Scott McTominay left Old Trafford through the back door. Now, at Napoli, he is a much more complete player and Scotland’s leader.

Group D: USMNT, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey

Christian Pulisic is the difference-maker for one of the hosts. His relationship with Mauricio Pochettino does not appear to be ideal, but the Argentine coach considers him indispensable for the USMNT.

Miguel Almirón is still only 31 and remains one of the leaders of Paraguay’s attacking unit.

Nestory Irankunda is one of Australia’s most promising young players. Born in 2006, he plays for Watford.

Arda Güler, 21, is the greatest talent of Turkey’s new generation. The World Cup will be his grand stage.

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador

Florian Wirtz, along with Jamal Musiala, is the player attracting the most attention in Germany. He has more than enough quality to once again become his national team’s guiding light.

Jürgen Locadia, after his spell in Spain with Intercity, has earned a place at Miami FC. Born in the Netherlands, he is Curaçao’s leading striker.

Franck Kessié, formerly of Milan and Barcelona, now plays for Saudi club Al Ahli. He has won two consecutive Asian Champions League titles.

Moisés Caicedo is the reference point for an Ecuador team packed with young stars.

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia

Frenkie de Jong has been one of the world’s best midfielders for years. The Barcelona player is the leader of Ronald Koeman’s side.

Takefusa Kubo is Japan’s great hope following injuries to Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino.

Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal’s new center-forward and a Premier League winner, is Sweden’s main reference point at the World Cup alongside Alexander Isak.

Young forward Hannibal Mejbri, 23, has shone at Burnley after leaving Manchester United and spending time at Sevilla.

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand

Thibaut Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world, or certainly one of them. He arrives at the World Cup eight years after being named the tournament’s best goalkeeper in 2018.

Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star – although his new club is not yet known – may be heading for his great international farewell with Egypt.

Mehdi Taremi has been decisive in helping Iran qualify for a World Cup where many eyes will be on them.

The powerful striker Chris Wood is New Zealand’s great leader at 34.

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay

Lamine Yamal is undoubtedly the star of a Spain team that has gone more than two and a half years without losing.

Livramento has been key to Cape Verde’s achievement in qualifying for a historic World Cup.

Salem Al-Dawsari, captain and an institution for both Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal, spent six months at Villarreal in 2018.

Fede Valverde, “The Falcon,” is Uruguay’s leader and captain. More than ever, he carries star status at Real Madrid.

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway

Kylian Mbappé is undoubtedly one of the stars of the World Cup. In one of the favorites, he is the leading figure of a team that came so close to glory.

Sadio Mané, the veteran Al Nassr forward, remains the most recognizable player for the Lions of Teranga.

Aymen Hussein arrives in magnificent form. He is the captain and undisputed leader of Iraq’s attack.

Erling Haaland racks up astonishing numbers season after season. With Norway, he will play in his first World Cup.

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan

Lionel Messi is undoubtedly Argentina’s great reference point. He is playing in his sixth World Cup, the perfect finishing touch.

Riyad Mahrez, at 34, is facing his final World Cup and his final matches with Algeria.

David Alaba, although injuries have marked his career over the past two years, remains Austria’s great leader.

Mousa Al-Tamari is the only Jordanian player who plays in a European league, with Rennes.

Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia

For Cristiano Ronaldo, this will be his sixth World Cup, adding even more scale to his legacy. He is chasing 1,000 goals. A milestone.

Cédric Bakambu is the player everyone is counting on in DR Congo.

Abdukodir Khusanov is the most recognizable player in Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan team. There is a reason he is at Manchester City.

Luis Díaz, at 29, will play his first World Cup. The Bayern winger arrives as Colombia’s main figure.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama

Jude Bellingham, with captain Harry Kane’s permission, will once again be the player expected to lead England at a major international tournament, as he did at Euro 2024.

Luka Modrić, at 40, will play in his fifth World Cup – and it would have been six had Croatia qualified in 2010. A true leader.

Iñaki Williams chose to play for Ghana, and his presence at the World Cup justifies that decision.

Adalberto Carrasquilla is the difference-maker for the Panama team coached by Thomas Christiansen.

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