10 Young Players Ready to Shine at the 2026 World Cup

The magic of the World Cup is not found only in the team that lifts the trophy or in the tournament’s biggest stars. Sometimes, the moments that stay in football’s memory begin when a young player, still unfamiliar to many, meets the biggest stage for the first time.

A player comes off the bench and shows courage with his first touch. A midfielder keeps the ball in a crowded area and changes the direction of play. A centre-back stands firm against a more experienced forward. These moments do not always appear directly on the scoresheet, but for those watching closely, they can reveal a lot about a player’s future.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will offer exactly that kind of stage for many young footballers. Names such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Endrick are already among the most talked-about young stars in world football. This list looks in a slightly different direction: young players who may not be mentioned everywhere before the tournament, but who could make their name known to a much wider audience if the right moment arrives.

Some of these players are competing for a real role in their national teams. Some stand out more as development or discovery profiles. Others may only receive limited minutes. But the World Cup does not always give a young player 90 minutes to tell a long story; sometimes, a few right moments are enough.

1. Kendry Páez

Ecuador | 19 | CA River Plate | Midfielder

Kendry Páez has a remarkably mature playing profile for his age. The fact that he has already gained important experience with Ecuador’s senior national team makes him one of the most ready-made players on this list.

His ability to receive between the lines, change direction under pressure and connect midfield with attack makes him more than just a “future prospect.” If Páez takes on an important role for Ecuador at the tournament, his name could be heard much more often after the World Cup.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A creative left-footed midfielder who can protect the ball under pressure and make high-quality decisions in the final third.

2. Yan Diomande

Ivory Coast | 19 | RB Leipzig | Forward

Yan Diomande is one of the most explosive attacking profiles on this list. His pace, physical power and direct one-v-one game could make him a dangerous player in tournament football.

Ivory Coast have strong competition in attack, but Diomande has the kind of profile that can bring energy into a game. He could be especially effective in transition, in open spaces and against tired defenders. In a fast-paced tournament like the World Cup, players like him can change the mood of a match even in short spells.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A high-upside attacking player with strong acceleration, directness and real value in transition moments.

3. Ibrahim Mbaye

Senegal | 18 | Paris Saint-Germain | Forward

Ibrahim Mbaye comes from a strong development environment at Paris Saint-Germain. That alone makes him interesting, but his possible role within Senegal’s squad also makes him a player worth following.

Senegal have serious competition in attack, so Mbaye’s role at the tournament may depend on specific match situations. Still, young, mobile and technically sharp forwards can catch attention quickly at major tournaments. Sometimes one run, one clever position or one touch inside the box is enough to start a player’s tournament story.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A mobile forward with strong technical qualities who could change the tempo of a game from the bench.

4. Gilberto Mora

Mexico | 17 | Club Tijuana | Midfielder

Gilberto Mora is one of the youngest stories of the tournament. Being in the squad at 17, especially for Mexico as one of the host nations, is already a major football story.

What stands out most about Mora is how comfortable he looks on the ball despite his age. His ability to play in tight spaces, position himself between the lines and take responsibility in attacking combinations makes him a special profile. It remains unclear how many minutes Mexico will give him, but every appearance he makes will attract attention.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A young midfielder with calmness in tight areas, creative touches and extra story value as part of a host nation’s squad.

5. Ayyoub Bouaddi

Morocco | 18 | Lille OSC | Midfielder

Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of the most refined midfield profiles in this selection. Developed at Lille, he has many of the qualities wanted in a modern central midfielder: calmness under pressure, intelligent positioning and clean use of the ball.

Morocco have a strong squad, so regular minutes may not be easy to earn. But at the World Cup, how well a player uses his minutes can matter as much as how many he receives. Bouaddi is the type of player who could show his quality if that opportunity comes.

He should not be watched only through goals or assists. Sometimes the value of a good midfielder lies in his ability to calm the game before speeding it up.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A tactically intelligent midfielder who gives security under pressure and can adapt to different midfield roles.

6. Kerim Alajbegović

Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18 | FC Red Bull Salzburg | Forward

Kerim Alajbegović is an interesting player in both club and national-team contexts. Red Bull Salzburg has become one of Europe’s most important development platforms for young attacking players, and Alajbegović is part of that pathway.

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, he could become one of the names of a new generation. He is mobile, has attacking instincts and carries the kind of forward profile that can offer different solutions in the final third. If he gets minutes at the tournament, he could bring fresh energy to Bosnia’s attack.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A young forward with a strong development pathway, good movement and the potential to grow into a bigger national-team role.

7. Luka Vušković

Croatia | 19 | Hamburger SV | Defender

Luka Vušković is one of the most interesting defensive profiles on this list. With his height, physical strength and ability to use the ball, he is close to what many clubs look for in a modern centre-back.

For a young defender, earning minutes in a tournament-experienced football nation like Croatia is not easy. But if he does step onto the pitch, he could stand out through his aerial strength, physical duels and composure in build-up. For defenders, the World Cup can be a difficult stage — but also a very valuable one.

For a young centre-back, a major tournament is a test with very little margin for error. If Vušković gets that test, his composure could matter as much as his physical qualities.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A modern centre-back profile with strong physical presence, aerial ability and calmness on the ball.

8. Rayan

Brazil | 19 | AFC Bournemouth | Forward

Rayan is not the most obvious young name in Brazil’s squad. That is exactly what makes him interesting for this list. Brazil always have major competition in attack, so his minutes at the tournament may be limited.

But these are the kinds of players who can make an impact after coming off the bench. His speed, direct runs and desire to attack the penalty area make him a forward profile who can be effective in short spells.

Wearing the Brazil shirt always carries heavy expectation for a young attacker. Rayan’s story may not begin with big headlines, but that could change if he finds the right moment in the right match.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A quick, direct forward who can threaten in transition and around the penalty area.

9. Hamza Abdelkarim

Egypt | 18 | FC Barcelona | Forward

Hamza Abdelkarim is one of the most intriguing discovery profiles on this list. He is not yet a major senior star at club level, but his Barcelona connection and inclusion in Egypt’s World Cup squad make him worth watching.

Egypt have more experienced attacking options, so Abdelkarim may not be expected to carry a major role immediately. But the World Cup can change quickly for players like him. Even a short appearance could be enough to bring more attention to his name.

The value of this type of player is not only about his role today. Sometimes, being included in a national-team squad at a young age already tells us something about how the federation and coaching staff view his potential.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A high-potential forward with a strong academy background, limited senior exposure and real discovery value.

10. Lucas Herrington

Australia | 18 | Colorado Rapids | Defender

Lucas Herrington is one of the lower-profile names on the list. But from a scouting perspective, that is exactly what makes him interesting. Young defenders usually do not shine as quickly as attacking players, but a strong defensive performance at a major tournament can change a lot.

As an 18-year-old defender in Australia’s squad, Herrington is a profile worth following from a development perspective. His physical tools, defensive discipline and early exposure to a senior national-team environment could put him on longer-term watchlists.

Sometimes the young stories of a World Cup are not written through spectacular dribbles, but through well-timed defensive actions. For Herrington, the tournament could become exactly that kind of opportunity.

Kickwise’s Scouts: A young defender with physical upside, early senior exposure and the potential to accelerate his development in high-pressure matches.

Watching young players at the World Cup is one of the most enjoyable parts of the tournament. Everything may seem to revolve around the biggest stars, but clues about football’s future are often hidden in smaller moments.

A player’s first touch under pressure, his reaction after losing the ball, the timing of a run in behind, his willingness to compete physically or how quickly he adapts to the speed of the game can reveal a lot. Sometimes a young footballer’s entire tournament story fits into 15 minutes — but those 15 minutes can be enough to make us watch him more closely.

Not every player on this list will become one of the stars of the tournament. Some may get limited minutes, others may appear only in specific match situations. But part of the beauty of major tournaments lies there: not everyone enters the stage as a star, but some players leave it as one.

The 2026 World Cup could be exactly that kind of beginning for some of the young names on this list.