Best Young Players at the 2026 World Cup (U-21)

Charlie Zschau Updated: Jun 10 2026 20:20

The World Cup is famous for shining a spotlight on new and emerging talent, and 2026 will feature plenty of talent for the World to see.

From the likes of Landon Donovan in 2002, and Kylian Mbappe in 2018, the World Cup has the ability to elevate young talents into future stars.

Find out the young players that will show off their skills at the 2026 World Cup in North America this summer, and have a chance to win the Young Player of the Tournament award when it's all wrapped up.

Established Young Stars

Player	National Team	Age
Lamine Yamal	Spain	18
Joao Neves	Portugal	21
Desire Doue	France	20
Warren Zaire-Emery	France	20
Yan Diomande	Ivory Coast	19
Arda Guler	Turkiye	21
Pau Cubarsi	Spain	19
Kobbie Mainoo	England	21

Lamine Yamal is the most obvious proven young star that will be at the 2026 World Cup, but their are many players who have established themselves as phenomenal players before turning 22.

Back-to-back UEFA Champions League winner, Joao Neves, is another name who has solidified himself as one of the world's best. Neves will surely start for Portugal, alongside his teammate Vitinha in Portugal's midfield.

Neves' PSG teammates Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery are more rock solid contributors for their club and country.

Yan Diomande is a recent breakout after playing high school soccer in the United States just four years ago. The Ivory Coast international is on the verge of a big money move this summer to one of the top teams in Europe, with Liverpool, PSG, Bayern Munich and more linked to a potential transfer.

Arda Guler, Pau Cubarsi, and Kobbie Mainoo are a few more young stars established youngsters playing at high level clubs across Europe that will be on display this summer.

Budding Stars Showing Promise

Player	National Team	Age
Nico O'Reilly	England	21
Nico Paz	Argentina	21
Kenan Yildiz	Turkiye	21
Lennart Karl	Germany	18
Endrick	Brazil	19
Antonio Nusa	Norway	21
Johan Manzambi	Switzerland	20
Rayan Vitor	Brazil	19
Malick Diouf	Senegal	21
Noah Sadiki	DR Congo	21
Chemsdine Talbi	Morocco	21
Matias Fernandez-Pardo	Belgium	21

Their are numerous young players on the verge of establishing themselves as young stars, but could use a strong World Cup performance to solidify that tag.

Nico O'Reilly, Nico Paz, Kenan Yildiz, Lennart Karl, and Endrick have made a name for themselves among tapped-in fans, but could shock the world this summer at the World Cup.

Endrick made headlines at a very young age, earning a big move from Palmeiras to Real Madrid in 2024, but has been somewhat inconsistent since. Lennart Karl is another major talent, but has been overshadowed by the huge stars that fill Bayern Munich's roster day-in-day-out.

Johan Manzambi made waves leading Freiburg to the UEFA Europa League Final, but can put his dribbling and passing skills on full display this summer with Switzerland.

Breakout Young Talent

Player	National Team	Age
Gilberto Mora	Mexico	17
Kerim Alajbegovic	Bosnia & Herzegovina	18
Ibrahim Mbaye	Senegal	18
Kendry Paez	Ecuador	19
Lucas Herrington	Australia	18
Mbekezeli Mbokazi	South Africa	20
Bazoumana Toure	Ivory Coast	20
Christ Oulai	Ivory Coast	20
Hamza Abdelkarim	Egypt	18

Most players already make a name for themselves before being selected for a World Cup roster, but these players have the chance to to show the world their abilities for the very first time on the games biggest stage.

Mexico's 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora is the youngest play on this list, and is a real talent in El Tri's midfield unit. Mora currently plays for Tijuana in Liga MX, and starred for his country at the U-20 World Cup last year.

Defenders Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire) have been showing off their quality in MLS, but will now have the opportunity to do it for their national teams as well.

Kerim Alajbegovic is another name well known is Bosnia. Alajbegovic crucially helped his team topple Wales and Italy in the UEFA World Cup Playoffs earlier this year, putting on a veteran-like performance both matches.

Hamza Abdelkarim's name is not widely known outside of Barcelona, but the 18-year-old could be the next top Egyptian for years to come. Currently playing for Barcelona's B-team, Abdelkarim has been scoring goals as prolifically as Erling Haaland, and earned himself a call-up alongside Egyptian stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.