Rising Stars to Watch at the 2026 World Cup: 20 Players Ready to Shine
From teenage sensations to hidden gems, these 20 players could steal the spotlight at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Rising Stars Ready to Make Their Mark at the 2026 World Cup
With a record-breaking 1,248 players set to compete across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be a showcase of global football talent like never before. While established superstars will command attention, it's the fresh faces — 891 of whom are stepping onto the World Cup stage for the very first time — that could truly capture the imagination of fans worldwide.
BBC Sport's television and radio commentators have identified 20 players from outside the Premier League and Scottish Premiership who are primed to become the breakout stars of this summer's tournament.
Mory Diomande — Ivory Coast
Age: 19 | Position: Winger | Club: RB Leipzig
One of the most coveted young talents heading into this summer's transfer window, RB Leipzig's teenage winger Mory Diomande is already turning heads across European football. The Bundesliga's Rookie of the Season, Diomande arrived at Leipzig from Spanish club Leganes in July 2025 for just 20 million euros (approximately £17.2 million) — a fee that now looks like an absolute steal.
In his debut Bundesliga campaign, the 19-year-old racked up an impressive 21 goal contributions — 12 goals and nine assists — across 33 league appearances, playing a key role in helping Leipzig secure Champions League football.
Diomande has an interesting personal connection to the host nation, having relocated to Florida at the age of 15 and spending three years living in the United States. A shoulder injury ruled him out of Ivory Coast's March friendlies against South Korea and Scotland, but he returned to action in spectacular fashion, starting in his country's surprise warm-up victory over France. He looks set to feature prominently when the tournament gets underway.
Emilio Mora — Mexico
Age: 17 | Position: Midfielder | Club: Tijuana
At just 17 years old, Emilio Mora holds the distinction of being the youngest player at the entire 2026 World Cup — and his story is already extraordinary. Last summer, he became Mexico's youngest-ever senior international when he appeared at the Gold Cup aged just 16, earning widespread praise as a genuine wonderkid.
Coach Javier Aguirre showed incredible faith in the teenager by naming him in the starting lineup for the Gold Cup final, where Mexico defeated Mauricio Pochettino's United States 2-1 in Houston to claim the title.
Mora also etched his name into Liga MX history as the competition's youngest-ever goalscorer, finding the net for Tijuana in August 2024 at the age of 15. With the opening World Cup match against South Africa taking place at the iconic Azteca Stadium, Mexican fans will be desperate to see their young star on the pitch from the start. However, Spanish-born midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo's decision to commit to Mexico in February could mean Mora initially finds himself on the bench.
Joël Manzambi — Switzerland
Age: 20 | Position: Midfielder | Club: SC Freiburg
Switzerland has a proud tradition of using major tournaments as a launchpad for talented young players — Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye both benefited from this approach in previous World Cups. This time around, all eyes are on SC Freiburg's Joël Manzambi, the youngest member of the Swiss squad and arguably its most exciting emerging talent.
Manzambi played a pivotal role in Freiburg's remarkable run to the Europa League final — the first European final in the club's history — earning UEFA's Europa League Revelation of the Season award in the process. His seven goals from midfield included a stunning strike against Braga in the semi-final, and across the entire European campaign he attempted 33 shots at goal — eleven more than any of his teammates.
Swiss national team captain Granit Xhaka has publicly praised the Geneva-born midfielder, and head coach Murat Yakin has described him as possessing "an incredible hunger to score goals that I have rarely seen." Versatile enough to operate in central midfield, as a number 10, or in a right-sided forward role, Manzambi scored his first senior international goal in a 4-0 victory over the United States in Nashville last summer.
Having featured in all 11 of Switzerland's internationals since his debut in June last year, Manzambi looks set to be one of the tournament's standout performers — and it may only be a matter of time before a larger European club comes calling.
Ricardo Pepi — United States
Age: 23 | Position: Striker | Club: PSV Eindhoven
As one of the three co-host nations, the United States will carry enormous pressure to perform in front of home fans — and much of that burden could fall on the shoulders of PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. Last season, Pepi delivered a devastating return of 19 league goals, including six in his final five matches, as PSV claimed the Dutch Eredivisie title.
With 13 goals from 35 international appearances, Pepi has proven his quality at senior level, though his puzzling absence from the starting lineup — playing just 36 minutes for the US between November 2024 and April this year — raised questions about his standing in the squad. He returned to the first team with an assist in a 3-2 friendly win over Senegal in late May before also appearing against Germany.
With the host nation needing a clinical finisher to fire them deep into the tournament, Pepi has the credentials and the motivation to be the player who delivers.
Paz — Argentina
Age: N/A | Position: Midfielder | Club: Como (Italy)**
One of the more intriguing names on this list, Paz played an integral role in Como's sensational rise through Italian football under manager Cesc Fabregas. Beyond his club success, the Argentine midfielder commands significant attention back in his home country, where expectations are high for his performances on the World Cup stage.
A World Cup Full of Potential
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most exciting tournaments in recent memory, not least because of the wealth of young, dynamic talent ready to announce themselves to a global audience. Whether it's a teenage Mexican prodigy, a Swiss Europa League sensation, or an American striker carrying the hopes of the host nation, these are the names that could define the summer — and reshape football for years to come.
Keep these players on your watchlist. By the time the final whistle blows, some of them may be household names.
