The 'football prodigies' from various continents are set to 'shake up' the 2026 World Cup

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, around 20 teenage players are expected to take part. Below are some notable young talents from different continents, selected by Singapore's The Straits Times. Many of these players are regarded as potential future stars.

Gilberto Mora (Mexico, 17 years old) is one of the most promising young talents in Mexican football. This midfielder has earned nine caps for the national team and became the sixth youngest player to appear in a World Cup when he came on during a 2-0 victory over South Africa on June 11. Earlier, at age 15, Mora became the youngest player to debut for club Tijuana, and also the youngest to score and assist in Liga MX, with 10 goals and 2 assists in 54 matches. At the national team level, he made his debut for Mexico in June 2025 and played a role in their Gold Cup triumph, including a key assist in the semi-final against Honduras and a starting spot in the final win over the USA (2-1). Mora currently has nine international caps but has not yet scored; if he finds the net at the World Cup, he could become one of the youngest goal scorers in tournament history.

Lamine Yamal (Spain, 18 years old) is considered one of the most outstanding young talents in European football today, with 25 national team appearances, 6 goals, and 12 assists. Born and raised in Catalonia, Yamal joined Barcelona's La Masia academy at a young age and made his La Liga debut at just 15. He debuted for the Spanish national team in 2023, becoming the youngest player to score for the side. At Euro 2024, Yamal set multiple records, becoming the youngest player to play, assist, and score in the tournament, while helping Spain win the European Championship. Despite his highly regarded technical skills and creativity, Yamal enters the 2026 World Cup with some fitness concerns after a hamstring injury in April.

Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal, 18 years old) is a player with a unique development path, born in France to a Senegalese father and a Moroccan mother. He played for youth teams before joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at age 10. Mbaye quickly progressed and helped PSG's U19 team win the national championship, earning a promotion to the first team. Although not exceptionally tall (1.75m), the winger is highly rated for his speed and dribbling ability. He has 11 caps for Senegal, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists. At club level, Mbaye has also won several major titles, including Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League, making him one of Africa's most promising young prospects.

Behruzjon Karimov (Uzbekistan, 18 years old) is a young right-back in Asian football. Once rejected for being too young to play, Karimov quickly proved his ability by making his professional debut at age 15. He played for Olympic Tashkent before moving to Surkhon, where he became a key player. After undergoing toe surgery in April, Karimov was still called up to Uzbekistan's 26-man squad for the World Cup. Previously, he scored at the U23 Asian Cup in a win over South Korea and earned two senior national team caps as Uzbekistan won the FIFA Series title.

Lucas Herrington (Australia, 18 years old) is a 1.92m tall center-back with Finnish, German, and Zimbabwean heritage. He developed through Australia's youth system before joining Brisbane Roar and later moved to Colorado Rapids (USA) for a club-record fee. Herrington has earned four caps for the Australian national team and began receiving regular playing time from March. Competing in the American league gives him an advantage in experience when Australia faces North American teams at the 2026 World Cup.

Endrick (Brazil, 19 years old) is one of the most notable talents in South American football. Growing up in difficult circumstances, Endrick showed special promise at Palmeiras before moving to Real Madrid for a significant transfer fee. In his first season in Europe, he won the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, while scoring 7 goals in 40 appearances. At the international level, Endrick has earned 17 caps for Brazil and scored 4 goals. Despite experiencing a period of inconsistent form and injury, the young forward returned with an important goal against Egypt on June 7, solidifying his place in the Selecao squad.