2026 World Cup Team of the Tournament

Cape Verde led the competition’s most inspiring underdog story. Vozinha was at the heart of it all – despite being 40 years of age, he put forth some wonderful displays between the sticks, making an astonishing 18 saves in four games and keeping a clean sheet against finalists Spain.

RB: Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro picked up a bit of flak for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last season, but he was absolutely faultless for Spain. Showing stout-hearted defensive nous and brilliant attacking acumen, he is a shoo-in for the right-back slot.

CB: Aymeric Laporte

Let’s be honest. Prior to the start of the World Cup, did anyone really expect to see Aymeric Laporte in the team of the tournament? Nevertheless, he has been utterly sensational, marshalling Spain’s backline and conceding just one goal over the course of the entire competition.

CB: Dayot Upamecano

France’s World Cup might’ve been underwhelming on the whole, but one cannot deny that Dayot Upamecano was consistently brilliant for Les Bleus. A warrior at the back, he made the joint-highest number of interceptions in the tournament alongside Laporte (prior to the final and 3rd place playoff).

LB: Marc Cucurella

The indefatigable Marc Cucurella has been at his brilliant best at the World Cup. His work rate has been simply unmatchable, giving Spain’s opponents little chance to create anything down his left flank. He’ll be a massive loss for Chelsea, having now joined Real Madrid.

CM: Rodri

Another Spain star in this XI. You’d have thought they made it to the final or something! Team captain Rodri looks to be back to the peak of his powers now, putting his peerless intelligence and passing to great use throughout the competition.

CM: Jude Bellingham

England’s hearts were broken last night, but the sheer brilliance of Jude Bellingham at the World Cup was absolutely unmistakable. Six goals in six games, as well as four goals in knockout rounds should tell you everything you need to know.

RW: Lionel Messi

The greatest footballer of all time. Lionel Messi might be 39 years of age, but you never would’ve thought it by watching him at the World Cup this year. With eight goals and four assists to his name, no-one could match his overall number of goal contributions. To top it all off, he is now the highest-scoring player in World Cup history – for now.

LW: Kylian Mbappe

Some audiences are musing that Kylian Mbappe had a ‘disappointing’ World Cup. Absolutely ridiculous. Yes, he failed to lift the trophy, but he also scored eight goals and racked up three assists. France didn’t do as well as they might’ve hoped, but Mbappe can’t be faulted for his herculean efforts.

ST: Erling Haaland

Norway embarked on their greatest World Cup tournament by a wide margin with Erling Haaland leading the charge. With seven goals in five games, he had the best goals-to-games ratio of any player in the competition this year.

ST: Harry Kane

Harry Kane certainly slowed down a little towards the end of the World Cup, but six goals and an assist in seven games makes him more than worthy of his spot in the XI. At 32, this might be the former Spurs man’s last chance at World Cup glory – but, if the mercurial Messi is anything to go by, then he might get one last bite of the cherry.