'Mazadona', 'Einstein', 'The Ant' - 20 new players to watch at World Cup
You already know about the superstars who could light up the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but what about the next wave of talent? A record 1,248 players can feature in the USA, Canada and Mexico and, while there are few total unknowns, 891 of them are at their first World Cup, including
You already know about the superstars who could light up the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but what about the next wave of talent?
A record 1,248 players can feature in the USA, Canada and Mexico and, while there are few total unknowns, 891 of them are at their first World Cup, including plenty of unfamiliar faces looking to announce themselves on the global stage.
Here, BBC Sport's TV and radio World Cup commentators pick out 20 players from outside the Premier League and Scottish Premiership who are worth watching out for this summer.
Steve Wilson: One of the most sought-after signatures of the summer will be RB Leipzig's teenage winger though the German club are naturally unwilling to see him go.
The winner of the Bundesliga rookie of the season award, Diomande only joined from Spanish side Leganes in July 2025 for a bargain 20m euros (£17.2m) and promptly registered 21 goal contributions (12 goals and nine assists) in 33 league appearances to help Leipzig qualify for the Champions League.
Diomande spent three years living in Florida after moving to the United States aged 15 so he should feel at home for the next few weeks.
He missed Ivory Coast's March friendlies against South Korea and Scotland with a shoulder injury but started last week's shock World Cup warm-up win over France and looks certain to keep his place once the tournament kicks off.
Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray: The youngest of all the players at this World Cup is a 17-year-old attacking midfielder who was described as a wonderkid at last summer's Gold Cup, when he became Mexico's youngest senior player aged 16.
