As the group stage of the 2026 World Cup draws to a close, the tournament is gearing up for the knockout stage and the battle for football’s biggest prize – which looks set to be exciting and unpredictable.
But the first three rounds of matches in the expanded 48-team format have provided no shortage of drama. There was shock, tears, bravery, weather delays and heated debate about the pros and cons of hydration breaks.
Above all, there was quality in abundance so here are our picks for the team of the tournament (so far) as we head towards the business end of this year’s show.
Honorable mentions
A number of players recently missed out on a place in the squad, but their performances still warrant a mention here:
Brian Brobbey (Netherlands): Brought into the starting XI by manager Ronald Koeman in the Netherlands’ second group game, the Sunderland striker took the full 17 minutes to score. He hasn’t looked back since then, scoring the third of the tournament against Tunisia as Oranje’s World Cup hopes continue to grow.
Ismael Saibari (Morocco): The Moroccan defender’s ability was clear to all when he opened the scoring against Brazil, producing a delicious chip for Alisson to give the North Africans the lead. He added to his tally in subsequent matches against Scotland and Haiti to help his country progress to the knockout stages unbeaten.
Folarin Balogun (USA): There was some doubt as to what kind of team USA would emerge from the World Cup. Thanks to the co-hosts, they impressed from the start, as Balogun put together a fun, attacking outfit.
Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast): A highly talented young man with a touching story, Diomande said that everything he does on the football field is for his late sister. And what he has done on the football field in this tournament so far is amazing as Ivory Coast secured a place in the playoffs for the first time. Already being watched by the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, interest in the 19-year-old is only set to grow.
Keito Nakamura (Japan): The best player in the match that ended in a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, Nakamura summed up everything that was good about this Japanese team. Combining skill and work ethic, the Reims player stepped up in the absence of the injured Kaoru Mitoma, chipping in with key goals and assists as the pre-tournament dark horses lived up to that label.
The highest number of XI
GK – Vozinha (Cape Verde)
Of all the stars who have appeared in the tournament so far, it is hard to look past the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper.
Not only that but Vozinha – whose real name is Josimar Dias – took home the player of the match – not to mention a few million new social media followers – after his heroics during the goalscoring clash with European champions Spain. But his impact was so great that US authorities waived the visa fee and a $15,000 (£11,300) bond for his mother, who was able to fly to see her son’s progress.
Vozinha’s story, and that of his nation, will go down as one of the best moments of the World Cup.
Next up is a date with hosts Argentina in the last 32. Cape Verde couldn’t, right?
DEF – Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
The marauding defender has been a mainstay of the Netherlands backline for several years now. And for good reason. The Inter player, who is currently being linked with Real Madrid, has two assists in this competition, as Oranje continues to apply to be included in the list of potential World Cup winners.
A big 5-1 win for Sweden, a 2-2 draw with Japan and a 3-1 win over Tunisia that came either way, cemented that claim, with Dumfries at the heart of it.
DEF – Johan Vasquez (Mexico)
Only four teams can still concede a goal in the World Cup this summer, and one of them is Mexico. The hosts have won just one knockout match at the men’s World Cup – that was 40 years ago – and will be hoping to double that tally this time around.
Early signs are good: Mexico top Group A with three wins from three and no goals conceded. Vasquez has been key to that solid defensive foundation, and his importance to the team will only increase as the tournament progresses.
DEF – Lisandro Martinez (Argentina)
One of Argentina’s stars may be grabbing all the headlines, but on the other side of the pitch, Martinez is a key cog in a defensive machine that is yet to be broken in this tournament.
Martinez, nicknamed ‘The Butcher’, was solid throughout, with the hosts boasting arguably the most balanced side in the competition. Given what, on paper at least, appears to be a good run to at least the quarter-finals, few would bet against them repeating their 2022 success.
DEF – Daniel Munoz (Colombia)
Colombia has been quietly going about its business this summer. Two wins out of two, albeit against teams many would have expected them to beat, means the South Americans are confident of a place in the knockout stages with a game to go.
Crystal Palace player Munoz has found the net in both of his country’s games, scoring the opener in a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and the only goal in a 1-0 win against DR Congo.
MID – Felix Nmecha (Germany)
Despite coming into the tournament with the memory of a group stage exit firmly in the minds of their fans, Germany appear to be back on their World Cup winning ways.
Die Mannschaft picked up high scores in the first two games, with the goal being a 7-1 thrashing of debutant Curacao and a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. They went into their game against Ecuador – which they lost 2-1 – safe in the knowledge that progress was assured.
The key to Germany’s success so far has been Nmecha – a hard-working midfielder with a strong shot and an eye for goal.
Borussia Dortmund’s player stock has soared, with potential Premier League players starting to show interest.
MID – Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)
It is a measure of the youngster’s abilities that he has been a standout player against a Brazilian midfield that includes five-time Champions League winner Casemiro and Premier League star Bruno Guimaraes.
Not only did the 18-year-old Lille player make no mistake in Morocco’s opening game where they won the World Cup five times, he did not appear to be relegated throughout the group stage as the African champions advanced to the Last 32 qualifiers.
A tense match against the Netherlands awaits Morocco, who after appearing in the semi-finals in 2022, will be looking to go deeper into the competition. If they do, Bouaddi will likely prove key to that.
MID – Michael Olise (France)
Much has been made of the Bayern Munich defender coming into the tournament. There is always pressure when it comes to two-time World Cup winners France, but there were few players in the Les Bleus team who carried the same weight that was expected following an outstanding season at club level.
Thankfully for France, Olise has lived up to the hype, a player who is more than filling the creative void left by Antoine Griezmann.
The former Crystal Palace player has three assists to his name – one of the highest in the competition so far. The best came in France’s opening game against Senegal, when he provided Kylian Mbappe to open his country’s account.
FWD – Erling Haaland (Norway)
It’s rare that all the big names in the World Cup make it to the biggest stage. Haaland is undoubtedly coming into this phase of the A-list and the Manchester City striker has produced when it matters most.
Back-to-back braces before being rested in their final group game against France with progress assured, Haaland look to make the most of Norway’s first World Cup finals appearance in 28 years.
With a hugely winning last-32 tie against Ivory Coast ahead of the Round of 16 clash with Brazil, it’s likely the world will see Haaland – and the Norwegian fans’ now-iconic ‘Viking Row’ celebration – a few more times before the tournament ends.
FWD – Kylian Mbappe (France)
The French striker is one of four players to have scored in two different World Cup finals, and one of two to score a hat-trick in that stage of the tournament.
So it’s no surprise that his goalscoring record in the biggest league in football is impressive. Seventeen World Cup appearances, 16 World Cup goals – and he’s still only 27 years old – Mbappe seems to be living his country up when it matters most.
Part of France’s fearsome players, Mbappe remains a valuable asset at the top, netting four times as he bids to eventually become the only player in World Cup history to win the golden boot twice.
FWD – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
There is a now famous moment in the movie Marvel Avengers: Endgame when the evil Thanos says this line: “I cannot be avoided”.
Far from being a villain, when it came to the Argentina captain, there always seemed to be an air of inevitability. But perhaps even Messi’s staunchest followers couldn’t believe that the 39-year-old still had the power to produce the kind of breath-taking moments.
But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has reasserted his claim to be the greatest footballer to ever grace the game, scoring five goals for Argentina in the tournament so far, including a hat-trick against Algeria.
Now he has become the best scorer in the history of the World Cup with 18 goals. And he shows little sign of stopping as Argentina look set to become the first country in more than 60 years to defend their title. What was that about inevitability?
Manager – Mauricio Pochettino (USA)
The 2026 tournament has been called by more than a few people the ‘manager’s world cup’. It is a valid claim to make. From Thomas Tuchel to Carlo Ancelotti, few international competitions have seen this much star power on the sidelines.
But it is Pochettino who has surpassed them all so far. After enduring a difficult time as head coach of the USMNT, the former manager of Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea comes into the tournament with the pressure of the nation on his shoulders.
However, any grumblings seem to have disappeared as the American team topped their group, winning two of their three matches, to set up a last 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He brought an exciting, attacking style of football. With his flowing, textured hair and elegant get-up, Pochettino, who has been dubbed the death of Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, is in his Master and Commander era. The question is, how far can he steer this ship?
