The World Cup is not only a stage for established legends. It is also where new tournament stories begin. In 2026, several major names are making their first appearance at football’s biggest event, from proven goal machines to young creative stars already trusted by their national teams.
Erling Haaland
Haaland was already one of the biggest names to watch before the tournament began. Norway is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and their return was powered by the Manchester City striker’s remarkable qualifying form, with 16 goals in eight matches.
He did not need long to make an impact. Haaland scored twice in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq, turning his long-awaited World Cup debut into an immediate statement and giving Norway the perfect start in Group I.
Lamine Yamal
Yamal entered the World Cup as one of football’s most exciting young players, even before kicking a ball on this stage. The Barcelona winger had already helped Spain win Euro 2024, becoming the tournament’s youngest goalscorer and winning the Best Young Player award.
After a limited role in Spain’s opening draw against Cape Verde, Yamal made his first start count. He scored his first World Cup goal in Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, giving the European champions the early breakthrough and showing why he is already trusted in big moments at just 18.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz arrived at his first World Cup as one of Germany’s most important creative players. Before his high-profile move to Liverpool, the 23-year-old had already built his reputation at Bayer Leverkusen, helping drive the club’s unbeaten Bundesliga title season and leaving with 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances.
His value to Germany is not only scoring, but linking midfield to attack with close control, quick combinations, and final-third passing. In his World Cup debut, Wirtz immediately showed that role by assisting Germany’s opening goal in a 7-1 win over Curaçao.
Brahim Diaz
Diaz is not a teenage newcomer, but 2026 is still his first World Cup. After representing Spain at the youth level and making one senior appearance, the Real Madrid attacker switched to Morocco in 2024 and quickly became one of the Atlas Lions’ most important creative players. His rise with Morocco was strengthened by a Golden Boot-winning run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the team another attacking weapon after its historic semifinal finish in 2022.
He has already carried that impact into the World Cup, assisting Ismael Saibari against Brazil in Morocco’s opening 1-1 draw before setting him up again in the 1-0 win over Scotland.
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