Art & Culture

7 Rising Footballers to Keep an Eye on at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

BYYassine Hariss

June 10, 2026

With less than 24-hours until the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway in North America, attention is shifting towards the game’s biggest stars. But as every tournament reminds us, World Cups are also where new names are made. Below is a non-comprehensive list of seven young athletes worth keeping an eye on over the next month, ranging from highly-rated wonder-kids already attracting interest from Europe’s elite to rising talents still waiting for their breakthrough moment.

Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ayyoub Bouaddi (@ayb.bouaddi)

Age: 18
Club: LOSC Lille
Position: Central Midfielder

After months of speculation and a tug-of-war between Morocco and France—the latter being both his country of birth and the nation he represented at youth level—Ayyoub Bouaddi finally pledged his international future to the Atlas Lions last month. At just 18, the Lille midfielder is already being hailed as one of football’s brightest prospects, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The talent is obvious, but the question now is whether he can translate all that potential onto the biggest stage of them all.

Hamza Abdelkarim (Egypt)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hamza Abdelkarim (@hamzabdelkarim)

Age: 18
Position: Forward / Winger
Club: Al Ahly SC / FC Barcelona

The first Egyptian ever to wear FC Barcelona’s famous Blaugrana shirt, Hamza Abdelkarim is currently living the dream so many young footballers only fantasize about. The 18-year-old, who joined the Catalan giants on loan from Al Ahly a few months ago, has quickly become one of the most talked-about prospects in Egyptian football. Granted, he still has plenty of growing to do before anyone puts too much pressure on his shoulders. As he enters his first World Cup call-up, the tournament could give fans their first real look at whether he’s worth all the hype regardless of whether he ends up playing a major role or just a handful of minutes. With Mohamed Salah gradually approaching the final stretch of his career, Egypt is already beginning to search for the next player capable of carrying the weight of the nation’s expectations and Abdelkarim might just be one of the names at the front of that queue.

Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ibrahim Maza (@ibomaza)

Age: 20Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger

Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

If there’s one player on this list who already feels destined for the very top, it’s probably Ibrahim Maza. Born and raised in Germany but now representing Algeria, the attacking midfielder has spent the past few years establishing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young athletes, earning a move to Bayer Leverkusen in the process. Comfortable operating between the lines, drifting out wide, or taking defenders on himself, Maza’s skills on the pitch should catch anyone’s eye, and if he continues on his current trajectory, expect him to become one of the faces of Africa’s next generation of stars.

Samir El Mourabet (Morocco)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by El mourabet Samir (@s_elmourabet)

Age: 20
Position: Central/Defensive Midfielder
Club: RC Strasbourg Alsace

Born and raised in Strasbourg, Samir El Mourabet came through the ranks at his hometown club the old-fashioned way. Having spent years developing within the RC Strasbourg setup, the 20-year-old midfielder finally broke into the first team this season and has wasted little time establishing himself as a regular. Comfortable dictating the tempo of a match, El Mourabet is a player who seems to process the game a few seconds quicker than everyone else, constantly finding pockets of space and solutions others fail to spot. With Morocco continuing to build towards the future while remaining competitive in the present, don’t be surprised if his name becomes increasingly difficult to ignore over the coming years.

Rayan Elloumi (Tunisia)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@whitecapsfc)

Age: 20
Position: Forward / Winger
Club: Vancouver Whitecaps
Born and raised in Canada, Rayan Elloumi represents a growing trend in modern football: diaspora talents choosing to honor their family’s roots on the international stage rather than the country they were born in. Though he may not yet be the most recognizable name in Tunisia’s squad right now, that could change very quickly. As a fearless winger who plays fast, and most importantly, with confidence, if he’s given a proper opportunity on the pitch during this World Cup, he could very well become one of its best surprises.

Yassine Gessime (Morocco)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gessime Yassine (@gessime.yassine)

Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger
Club: RC Strasbourg Alsace

Less than a year ago, Yassine Gessime was still playing in France’s second division. Fast forward to today and the young winger finds himself on the verge of a World Cup appearance after a breakthrough season that has accelerated his rise considerably. A starter in the Morocco side that won the U20 World Cup last October, Gessime’s performances earned him a move from Dunkerque to Strasbourg, where he joined fellow Moroccan prospect Samir El Mourabet. Direct, technically gifted, and rarely short on confidence, Gessime has consistently delivered whenever given the opportunity. Admittedly, his slight frame means he may not yet be fully suited to the physical demands of a tournament like the World Cup, making a major role this summer unlikely. But even if his minutes are limited, the experience alone could prove invaluable. One thing is certain: Morocco’s coaching staff clearly see him as part of the future, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become a regular fixture in the national team setup sooner rather than later.

Anis Hadj Moussa (Algeria)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anis Hadj Moussa (@hadj.a20)

Age: 24
Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger
Club: Feyenoord

Unlike many of the names on this list, Anis Hadj Moussa is no longer a prospect. The Feyenoord winger arrives at this World Cup having already established himself as one of Algeria’s most exciting attacking outlets, following a rapid rise that has taken him from the lower divisions of Dutch football to one of the biggest clubs in the Netherlands in just a few years. Equipped with pace, trickery, and an endless supply of self-belief, the Algerian attacker has developed into the sort of player capable of changing the mood of a match with a single touch— which is exactly what will be needed for the North African side’s opening game against Messi’s Argentina.

7 Rising Footballers to Keep an Eye on at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

7 Rising Footballers to Keep an Eye on at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Related Stories

More From Art & Culture

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Newsletter

The only newsletter you won't unsubscribe from

Follow Us