The New Wave: Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland & 10 stars set to make their World Cup debuts in 2026

Despite having not qualified since 1998, Norway would appear to be everyone’s dark horses for the tournament given the sheer star power within their ranks. Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth are among the big names making their World Cup debuts, but there can be no doubt who will be the centre of attention whenever they take to the field.

Erling Haaland's international record is remarkable - 55 goals in 49 caps - but this summer not only marks the Manchester City striker's first World Cup appearance, but the first time he will have played at a major tournament full stop. Norway will face Iraq, Senegal and France in the group stages, and defences are likely alrady shaking at the prospect of Haaland sprinting at them with the ball at his feet.

So can Haaland make it look as easy as he usually does at his first World Cup? Few would bet against it.

Lamine Yamal is Spanish football’s next great hope. Already a global superstar, he has twinkle toes and magic in his boots, as evidenced by his shimmering displays for Barcelona since his debut as a 15-year-old. 

Yamal truly came of age at Euro 2024, scoring one sensational goal - in the semi-final against France no less - and assisting four more as Spain went all the way. Now, a repeat performance at the World Cup may well see him crowned as the best player in the world. 

Despite being just 18, there can be no doubting Yamal's experience at the highest level; the challenge now is to win the sport’s biggest prize - as long as his body can handle the strain after a season blighted by injuries.

Florian Wirtz was one of the biggest signings of last summer, as he joined Liverpool in a staggering deal that could end up being worth in excess of £116 million, but he did not enjoy the easiest of debut seasons in the Premier League. He will hope to enjoy a better first experience of the World Cup, then, having missed out in 2022 while he recovered from a torn ACL.

A fleet-footed, silky dribbler, Wirtz's previous tournament experience saw him score twice at Euro 2024, and he is relied upon to be Germany's creator-in-chief under Julian Nagelsmann. And though he won't be joined in the line up by would-be fellow World Cup debutant Lennart Karl after the teenager suffered an injury on the eve of the tournament, Wirtz will still partner Jamal Musiala as they attempt to unpick the most difficult of locks this summer.

Luis Diaz has lit up both Anfield and the Allianz Arena in recent seasons, though his performances for Bayern Munich this past season, where he dovetailed beautifully with Harry Kane and Michael Olise to form part of one of the most potent attacking units in Europe, were the best of his career to date.

At the age of 29, it feels remarkable that Diaz has never previously represented his country at the World Cup. However, Colombia failed to qualify in 2022, while Diaz was only just starting to make a name for himself at Junior FC at the time of the 2018 tournament.

He has gone on to win over 70 caps since his debut in September 2018, and if he can maintain the form he has shown for Bayern, for whom he scored 26 goals and provided 19 assists in 2025-26, then he could lead Colombia deep into the competition.

Diaz's team-mate, Olise, is also heading to his first World Cup after a season that has put him right in the Ballon d'Or running with Bayern. The France winger netted 25 goals himself while providing 28 for others, and the former Crystal Palace man has been able to carry that form into his performances for Les Bleus, to the point that he looks set to keep Paris Saint-Germain sensation Desire Doue out of Didier Deschamps' preferred line up.

There were those who doubted whether Olise could make the leap from a mid-table Premier League side to the top of the European game, and he has proved every one of them wrong over the past two seasons. Now he is perfectly primed to become a global superstar if he can shine when the lights are truly at the brightest this summer.

Joao Neves has developed into one of Europe’s standout midfielders since his move to PSG in the summer of 2024, becoming a two-time Champions League winner at the age of 21 alongside his Portugal team-mates Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos.

And though he has had to bide his time to make his mark at international level, sometimes even filling in at right-back due to the wealth of midfield options available to Roberto Martinez, Neves is beginning to bring his all-action style to the Seleccao. Expect this to be the first of many World Cups for the former Benfica man.

Nico Paz has developed into one of the most sought-after playmakers in Europe during his time working under Cesc Fabregas at Como, and he is widely expected to return to Real Madrid this summer, with the Spanish club exercising their buy-back option after selling him in 2024. 

Blessed with superb technical ability, as well as a physicality that allows him to play as a No.10 and a central midfielder, Paz has just helped lead Como to a fourth-placed finish in Serie A and Champions League qualification while being voted the Italian top-flight's best midfielder.

Argentina are now hoping Paz carries his club form into his first World Cup as the defending champions look to surround Lionel Messi with the best players available and try and win back-to-back global tournaments for the first time in their history.

While many of the players who will represent the United States as they co-host the tournament were part of their squad in 2022, it was clear in Qatar that the team lacked a goal-scorer. The hope is that that is where Folarin Balogun comes in.

A striker who can shoot with both feet, has pace to burn, and can to finish one-on-ones with precision, the ex-Arsenal striker arrives at his first World Cup having enjoyed an excellent season for Monaco, for whom Balogun scored 19 goals in all competitions, including a run of eight successive Ligue 1 games in which he found the net.

Having switched his allegiance from England, Balogun showed that he would not be overawed by playing a tournament during the 2024 Copa America, where he netted twice in three games despite the U.S. crashing out in the group stages. Now the 24-year-old will be expected to fire Mauricio Pochettino's side deep into the knockout rounds.

Arda Guler came of age at Euro 2024, as he played a central role in Turkiye's run to the quarter-finals, scoring brilliantly against Georgia before registering assists against both Austria and the Netherlands. And if that was a sign of things to come from the 21-year-old as a tournament footballer, then he could be about to light up the World Cup.

Guler is coming off a club season where he managed to establish himself in the Real Madrid line up for the first time and struck up a fine understanding with Kylian Mbappe that contributed to him providing 16 assists, which he complemented with seven goals of his own.

He and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz are expected to lead from the front for Turkiye this summer, and for years to come, with there hopes that the devastating duo can build a strong World Cup legacy.

Yan Diomande is one of the most in-demand footballers on the planet. The RB Leipzig youngster has developed into one of the most devastating wingers in Europe at the age of 19, leading to him being chased by Liverpool and PSG, among others.

Given that level of interest in him, all eyes are going to be on Diomande whenever the Ivory Coast take to the field this summer, and after performing well at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, he is primed to impress once again on the tournament stage.