Yamal, Endrick, Guler & Co: Young guns ready to attack at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here. This time it will have 48 nations, 104 matches and a thousand stories, but nothing like the arrival of a new generation of players who will make their mark on the game’s biggest world stage through their talents. These are the players who watched the 2022 Qatar final as schoolboys and now walk into the dressing room alongside Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe.Some dazzle. Some may freeze. All are worth a look. The list of teenagers who have broken through at the World Cup is long and includes legends such as Pelé, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Owen and Thomas Müller. The expanded format means more nations, more games and fundamentally more space for young talent to showcase their game.Here are 10 under-21 players who will be making their first World Cup debut.

Yamal is an outstanding player of his generation, probably even the best in the world, regardless of age. The Barcelona star ended the 2025-26 season with a stunning 24 goals and 18 assists in 48 games to help Hansi Flick’s side retain the La Liga title. Starting at right wing, he is much more than a winger and Yamal’s tight control of pace and timing of when to accelerate or stop are exceptional. Once he beats the first marker, the options are endless: a blast from outside, a masked through ball, a whipped cross or a typical diagonal run downfield before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt. A hamstring injury may delay his World Cup debut in Spain’s Group Three match against Uruguay, but when Yamal runs, the world will see a superstar of the future.

The Turkish magician has been a household name in international football for some time, but this summer marks his first World Cup. The Real Madrid playmaker racked up an astonishing 14 assists in the 2025-26 La Liga campaign. He is expected to operate as a number 10 for Türkiye, moving further up the pitch than his usual deeper role at club level. Technically brilliant, gifted with remarkable touch and close control, Güler can unlock a game in a flash. His 3.1 chances created per 90 minutes is a surprising return for a player who often operated deeper in midfield. If Türkiye is to live up to its eternal “dark horse” label, Güler is the man who must step forward and complete the task.

João Neves, a UEFA Champions League winner with PSG, João Neves arrives at his first World Cup as one of the most decorated 21-year-olds in football history. The Portuguese midfielder has formed one of the most compelling midfield partnerships in Europe with Vitinha at PSG, bringing intensity on the ball, accurate passing and a remarkable ability to control the tempo of the game. Portugal’s Roberto Martínez will look to replicate that partnership at the World Cup, with Neves expected to start alongside his club-mate. In the rising heat of the North American summer, his fitness, youth and relentless energy could prove to be Portugal’s greatest weapon in the later rounds.

Another PSG star on the list, Doue, made his mark on the world stage by scoring against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final last year. The Frenchman has contributed an extraordinary 32 goals in 61 games for PSG this season and played a significant role in their back-to-back Champions League triumphs. He scored 13 goals in all competitions in the 2025–26 season. The designated left-back can play in all roles up front, including false 9, while offering France another striker who can turn a game around in a flash. With an attacking lineup that includes Kylian Mbappe and Dembele, Doue can be a super-sub that can change the game at any time.

Not every hero in this World Cup will play with flair and panache. Pau Cubarsí embodies a different kind of brilliance – the cool, level-headed authority of a centre-back who simply never panics. At 18, the Barcelona defender has already earned a reputation for reading the game like a two-time veteran. His positional intelligence, aerial dominance and ability to bring the ball out from the back made him a key figure for both Barcelona’s winners and Spain’s defensive set-up. As defending European champions and genuine World Cup contenders, Spain need their backline to hold firm in tight knockout games. And for that, Cubarsi’s composure in tight moments will play a key role.

Few 20-year-olds arrive at the World Cup with such seasoned senior experience. Warren Zïre-Emery has already become synonymous with reliability with 182 competitive appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. A natural box-to-box No.8, he covers ground, wins tackles, carries the ball forward and keeps up the rhythm of passing, but has also shown he can play straight back when needed. His 5.47 recoveries per 90 minutes reflect a defensive efficiency rare for a midfielder his age. In Didier Deschamps’ France side, Zaïre-Emery is prized precisely for what he doesn’t do: he doesn’t make headlines, take unnecessary risks or avoid solutions.

The weight of Brazil’s soccer legacy rests on many shoulders, but none more visibly than Endrick’s. The 19-year-old striker arrived at Real Madrid to huge fanfare, only to find himself loaned out to Lyon, where he has rediscovered his best form and has now carved out a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad. Brazilian legend Cafu himself chose Endrick as the main star of the tournament. His World Cup debut will mark his first appearance at a FIFA tournament, having registered two assists in 14 minutes on his Brazil debut against Croatia earlier this year. He is unlikely to start, but in a Brazil team looking for their sixth World Cup title, Endrick could be a match-winner off the bench.

Perhaps no story in the 2026 World Cup is more remarkable than that of Yano Diomande. Just four years ago, this teenager was playing high school football in Florida. Today, he is a Bundesliga striker with a rating of 100 million euros, linked by Liverpool, PSG and Bayern Munich. A sensational debut season in the German Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, Diomande contributed 12 goals and 10 assists and was named Rookie of the Year. A winger with a real edge to his game, Diomande relies on short bursts of acceleration, sharp changes of direction and an insatiable appetite to outrun defenders. Quick, tricky and with a fierce eye for goal, Diomande is arguably the tournament’s most exciting wild card and can pull off a James Rodriguez-style 2014 World Cup campaign in 2026.

In his breakthrough club season, the Manchester City full-back was crowned Premier League Young Player of the Season after making 34 appearances for City this term, with England head coach Thomas Tuchel handing him a World Cup invite despite big names like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden missing out. He scored both goals in the EFL Cup final against Arsenal and was Man of the Match at Wembley. The left back scored nine goals and six assists this season. His versatility should also suit Thomas Tuchel’s preference to use inverted full-backs to create congestion in central areas, as Tuchel prefers to play a three-man defense at the back.

Karl’s brilliant debut season at Bayern has already seen him net nine goals and provide eight assists for his club, playing a key role in Bayern’s Champions League semi-final run. His goal against Club Brugge in October made him the youngest Bayern player to score in the Champions League, aged 17 years and 242 days. At 18, he is the youngest call-up in the entire German World Cup squad. In Germany’s pre-tournament win over Finland, Karl became the youngest player since records began in 2005 to directly contribute to a goal for the German national team. An xG of 0.53 per 90 minutes speaks to his consistent attacking input and he can play a decisive role off the bench for Germany this campaign.There are several other names who can also make a big impact in their debut World Cup campaign for their respective countries. Kenan Yildiz (Turkey), Luka Vuskovic (Croatia), Rayan (Brazil), Kobbie Mainoo (England), Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal), Nico Paz (Argentina), Gilberto Mora (Mexico, the youngest player of the whole tournament), Kendry Páez (Ecuador), Jorrel Hato (Australia) and some names are Nesranka (Netherlands). These U21 debutants have the potential to steal the show during the upcoming World Cup.