{"id":23980,"date":"2026-06-11T18:39:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/23980\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T18:39:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:39:36","slug":"11-players-from-11-countries-to-know-before-kickoff-and-italys-absence-2026-world-cup-insider-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/23980\/","title":{"rendered":"11 players from 11 countries to know before kickoff \u2014 and Italy’s absence | 2026 World Cup Insider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Denver Gazette reporter Vinny Benedetto takes you around the World Cup:<\/p>\n

The biggest stage of the beautiful game is back on American soil for the first time since Brazil bested Italy in penalty kicks to win the 1994 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s champion will be crowned July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Here are 11 names to know from 11 countries before the action kicks off Thursday:<\/p>\n

\"FILENorway\u2019s Erling Haaland controls the ball during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo\/Aurel Obreja, File)<\/p>\n

Forward<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland, Norway<\/p>\n

The last time the Norwegians qualified for the World Cup, a trip to the round of 16 in 1998, Haaland was yet to be born. Manchester City\u2019s 25-year-old striker has scored goals in bunches everywhere he\u2019s played and three times has led the Premier League in goals after bagging 27 this season. He became his country\u2019s all-time leading scorer in 2024. With strength, speed, skill and a 6-foot-5 frame, Haaland is a complete player capable of using both his feet and his forehead to beat the keeper. The World Cup will be a new adventure, but Norway has legitimate star power thanks to Haaland and attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard.<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi, Argentina<\/p>\n

A few weeks shy of his 39th birthday, this figures to be the greatest of all time\u2019s sixth and final World Cup. His crowning achievement in international soccer came four years ago when he scored twice and converted a penalty kick to secure his country\u2019s fourth World Cup. A couple of more big moments in this tournament will only strengthen Messi\u2019s case to be the G.O.A.T. Those who watched him dazzle against the Rapids with Inter Miami a couple of months ago can attest Messi is still capable of producing brilliance.<\/p>\n

Kylian Mbappe, France<\/p>\n

Mbappe can\u2019t be faulted for France\u2019s shortcomings in the 2022 final. He scored all three of his team\u2019s goals \u2014 two in the 90 minutes and an equalizer late in extra time \u2014 to force a shootout. He went on to convert France\u2019s first penalty kick. At 27, the Real Madrid star is at the point of the career where he\u2019s still got elite pace with plenty of experience in the biggest games. That\u2019s a combination that makes Mbappe the most dangerous player on one of the favorites to win the tournament.<\/p>\n

\"FILEFILE \u2013 Spain\u2019s Lamine Yamal, right, scores his side third goal during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal second leg match between the Netherlands and Spain at Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo\/Alberto Saiz, File)<\/p>\n

Midfield<\/p>\n

Lamine Yamal, Spain<\/p>\n

The game is at good feet. At 18, Yamal is already one of the world\u2019s most impactful players at Barcelona. He\u2019s at his best slicing through defensive lines as an inverted winger playing on the right side of the field. A couple of years ago, he became the youngest player to appear, score and eventually win the Euro 2024. He assisted Spain\u2019s first goal in an eventual 2-1 win over England in the final. If Yamal can avoid the trappings of stardom until his frontal lobe fully develops, this World Cup will serve as a pivotal early chapter in a long and illustrious career.<\/p>\n

Bruno Fernandes, Portugal<\/p>\n

The likelihood of this being Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s final chance to lead Portugal to World Cup glory will be the dominant storyline, but the success of what is likely the 41-year-old\u2019s farewell tour will be most impacted by Fernandes. The Manchester United captain is one of the game\u2019s most creative attacking midfielders and will surely supply his superstar teammate with ample opportunities to add to his record for goals in international play. The 31-year-old enters his third World Cup after being named Premier League Player of the Season and setting a record with 21 assists.<\/p>\n

Declan Rice, England<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old is one of the many reasons England is among the favorites to bring home the cup for the first time since 1966. Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford headline the attack, while Rice does a lot of the necessary dirty work behind them. He\u2019s capable of playing as a defensive or box-to-box midfielder and is coming off a career year with Arsenal, which won the Premier League and advanced to the Champions League final. That experience will benefit his country this summer.<\/p>\n

\"\"Algeria\u2019s Amine Gouiri, left, challenges for the ball with Netherlands\u2019 Virgil van Dijk during the international friendly soccer match between Netherlands and Algeria in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 3. (AP Photo\/ Patrick Post)<\/p>\n

Defender<\/p>\n

Achraf Hakimi, Morocco<\/p>\n

The Moroccans were the surprise of the last tournament, becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals, and Hakimi was a big reason why. He converted the winning penalty to defeat Spain for a spot in the quarterfinals in Qatar. A clean sheet helped Morocco beat Portugal, 1-0, to reach the semifinals before a 2-0 loss to France ended the dream run. In the four years since, he\u2019s continued to star for Paris Saint-Germain and played the entirety of PSG\u2019s win over Arsenal to become the club champions of Europe. Hakimi is a blur down the right side of the field and will create chances for his strikers.<\/p>\n

Gabriel, Brazil<\/p>\n

For a country whose soccer history is littered with brilliant attacking players, the Arsenal center back provides the bite on the back line. At 6-3 he has the size paired with the mentality to win the ball in the box and snuff out scoring opportunities. He\u2019s another player who will benefit from Arsenal\u2019s successful season. Since setting the record with a fifth World Cup win back in 2002, Brazil has been to the semifinals once in the past five tournaments. Gabriel is a reason for optimism Brazil gets back where it belongs.<\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk, Netherlands<\/p>\n

No list of the game\u2019s best defensive players over the last decade goes without the Dutch center back. The captain of his national team and Liverpool is as good winning the ball in the air as he is with the ball at his feet. There\u2019s plenty of quality in the Netherlands squad from Cody Gapko in the attacking third to Frenkie de Jong in the midfield, but the Oranje will rely on the center back\u2019s calmness to continue the country\u2019s proud tradition.<\/p>\n

Alphonso Davies, Canada<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s short history at the World Cup could get a little longer with a breakout tournament from its captain. Davies is one of the most electric wing backs on the globe. Few can keep up with the Bayern Munich star down the left side of the field. Davies and company qualified on their own for the 2022 tournament \u2014 Canada\u2019s first appearance since 1986 \u2014 and are back as co-hosts this year. If Canada wants to reach the knockout stage for the first time, it will require massive contributions from Davies on both ends.<\/p>\n

\"\"Belgium\u2019s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois holds a trophy as he celebrates his 100th match during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Austria at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo\/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, file)<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper<\/p>\n

Thibaut Courtois, Belgium<\/p>\n

The sun is setting on what was supposed to be a golden generation of Belgian soccer headlined by striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and their big man between the posts. Courtois has been in goal for the last three World Cups, including the dramatic win over the United States in 2014 and a third-place run in 2018. The 6-7 shot stopper has played in plenty of other big matches with Chelsea and Real Madrid in the last 15 years. One more deep run before a new crop takes charge will require more big moments from the 34-year-old keeper.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m thinking<\/p>\n

Soccer in the United States has come a long way since the last time the World Cup came stateside.<\/p>\n

Back in 1994, Major League Soccer was still a couple of years away from playing its first match. Now, MLS and its academy system serve as a launching point for the best and brightest American footballers, who have found success at top European clubs with increasing frequency. It\u2019s the route taken by half of the 26-man World Cup roster, including some of the team\u2019s most impactful players.<\/p>\n

Weston McKennie, now at Italian power Juventus, came out through the FC Dallas system. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams progressed through the New York Red Bulls system. The same can be said of midfielder Gio Reyna and New York City FC and goalkeeper Matt Freese and Philadelphia Union.<\/p>\n

Christian Pulisic, the face of American soccer who\u2019s now with AC Milan, is the outlier. Though he briefly played for a Philadelphia Union youth team, his ability to obtain a Croatian passport allowed him to join Borussia Dortmund\u2019s academy in Germany at 16 instead of 18.<\/p>\n

Most of those players will be at the back end of their athletic primes by time the 2030 World Cup rolls around, putting extra emphasis on making the most of this opportunity on home soil. A favorable group featuring Paraguay, Australia and Turkey means reaching the knockout stage should be a minimum definition of success. A second-ever trip to the quarterfinals \u2014 joining the 2002 squad that put up a fight against eventual finalist Germany \u2014 should be the goal.<\/p>\n

The United States still has a long way to go to catch up with the elite nations, but this summer should serve as a big step for American soccer.<\/p>\n

\"FILEUnited States\u2019 Weston McKennie celebrates his goal with Tyler Adams, left, and Christian Pulisic during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against Mexico, Nov. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. The U.S. won 2-0. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez, File)<\/p>\n

What\u2019s changed?<\/p>\n

The World Cup expands to 48 teams this year. Previous installations featured 32 teams from 1998-2022 with 24 teams competing from 1982-94.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s tournament marks the first time three countries \u2014 Mexico, Canada and the United States \u2014 split the hosting duties.<\/p>\n

Hydration breaks will be implemented for the first time with the game stopping midway through each half for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has been tweaked to allow for more reviews to determine whether a corner kick or goal kick should be given or fix cards assessed to the wrong player.<\/p>\n

Players can also be shown a red card for covering their mouths in confrontational moments, an effort to curb racial abuse.<\/p>\n

There are new rules about the length of time it takes players to exit the pitch after an injury or substitution to fix popular time-wasting practices.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s new and who\u2019s missing?<\/p>\n

Buy your favorite paisan a Peroni. Despite lifting the trophy four times, Italy will miss the World Cup for an unprecedented third consecutive tournament. The Azzurri lost a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a spot in the tournament on the line.<\/p>\n

Denmark, Nigeria, Poland and Chile are among the other notable countries that failed to qualify.<\/p>\n

Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan and Jordan will make their World Cup debuts this week.<\/p>\n


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