The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be a thrilling showcase of international football.
With 48 nations set to participate for the first time, more players will have the chance to shine. Here are three young talents who could be breakout stars at the tournament.
New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen completed a surprise transfer to Premier League club Bournemouth last summer for an initial £850,000 fee that could rise to £2 million.
He became their fourth summer signing but was quickly loaned out to Auckland FC in the Australian top flight. Paulsen’s talent has been the major driving force behind his success.
In his debut season as a first-choice shot-stopper, Paulsen won the Young Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year awards.
He has wasted no time establishing himself as a key player for Auckland, keeping a clean sheet in his opening three A-League games.
If Paulsen maintains his current form, he will be one to watch at the World Cup if New Zealand qualify, although his odds of winning the Golden Glove may be non-existent.
Nevertheless, punters will back New Zealand in each game on the sportsbooks listed at Bettingtop10.co.nz and Paulsen will be a key part of their ambitions.
New Zealand are the bookmakers’ favourites to book a spot at the showpiece from the Oceania contingent, and it will be a massive upset if they fail to get the job done.
PSV Eindhoven youngster Ricardo Pepi is quickly becoming one of the finest talents to come out from the United States and he could be leading the line for them at the World Cup.
Pepi has been on a meteoric rise since coming through the youth ranks at Dallas FC in Major League Soccer. He’s an exciting prospect who is morphing into a lethal striker.
The 21-year-old has played a key role in PSV’s near-perfect start to the season, helping the Dutch champions win 11 of their 12 Eredivisie games.
He is undoubtedly one of several talented youngsters who could announce themselves to the world on the global stage, especially with the World Cup coming to the US in 2026.
Pepi initially struggled to find his feet after swapping North America for Europe. He flopped at Bundesliga club FC Augsburg, failing to open his goalscoring account in 16 attempts.
Despite his goal drought, his talent and potential were evident, and FC Groningen took a chance on the him, securing his services on loan, and he rewarded their faith with 13 goals in 31 games.
PSV splashed the cash to lure him to the Philips Stadion. He has been sensational this season, and it would not be surprising to see him make his mark at the World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo showed what he is all about at the 2024 European Championship, anchoring England’s midfield with aplomb on their way to the final.
Since coming through Manchester United’s academy, the 19-year-old has been a revelation, establishing himself as one of the finest prodigies in the country.
The teenage sensation has already racked up 44 appearances for the first team. He’s undoubtedly one of the best talents to come through the club’s youth ranks in recent years.
He has already started drawing comparisons to former United midfielder and fellow academy graduate Paul Pogba. He is one of several young players that could light up the World Cup in 2026.
After an excellent debut campaign at Old Trafford, Mainoo was rewarded with his first England call-up, and he was key to their fairytale run to the Euro final.
He will be keen to better that performance in his debut World Cup tournament after showing signs of a player who thrives on the pressure of high-stakes football.
England has no shortage of midfield talent, but Mainoo brings calm, creativity and composure to the middle of the park, and he will be keen to flaunt his unique skill set at the 2026 World Cup.
Hi! I’m Bryan, and I’m a passionate & expert writer with more than five years of experience. I have written about various topics such as product descriptions, travel, cryptocurrencies, and online gaming in my writing journey.
Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.
