Erling Haaland has waited a long time for this moment. The Manchester City striker helped Norway qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, and in 2026 he will finally get his shot at football's grandest stage. For a player already counted among the world's most prolific goal scorers, a tournament debut feels long overdue.
He will not be the only one arriving fresh. Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation already established as a key figure for Spain, is expected to be central to his country's campaign. Martin Ødegaard is also set to make his World Cup bow, adding another familiar club name to what is shaping up to be a genuinely exciting generation of debutants.
Germany's creative midfielder Florian Wirtz rounds out the names drawing attention ahead of the tournament. His first appearance on the global stage comes at a time when his country will be looking to him for imagination and energy in the middle of the park.
The backdrop to all of this is a tournament that looks different from any before it. With the competition expanding to 48 teams and spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, there is more room than ever for new stars to announce themselves. The only question is which of these players will be the name everyone is talking about when it is all over.
Originally published by NotJustOk.