The 2026 World Cup will feature a record 1,248 players, and 891 of them are at their first tournament. Among those unfamiliar faces, two teenagers stand out: a 19-year-old Ivorian winger who spent three years living in Florida, and a 17-year-old Mexican midfielder nicknamed 'The Mexican Pedri'.
Dorgeles Diomande, a teenage winger for RB Leipzig, is one of the most sought-after signatures of the summer, according to BBC Sport commentator Steve Wilson. Diomande joined Leipzig from Leganes in July 2025 for £17.2m and promptly registered 21 goal contributions (12 goals and nine assists) in 33 league appearances, helping Leipzig qualify for the Champions League. He won the Bundesliga rookie of the season award. Leipzig reportedly value him at more than £112m and insist he is not for sale. Diomande missed Ivory Coast's March friendlies against South Korea and Scotland with a shoulder injury but started last week's shock World Cup warm-up win over France and looks certain to keep his place once the tournament kicks off. Having moved to the United States aged 15 and lived in Florida for three years, he should feel at home in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
“Two teenagers, including a £112m-rated winger and a 17-year-old wonderkid, could be breakout stars at the 2026 World Cup.”
The youngest player at the World Cup is 17-year-old Mexican attacking midfielder Elias Mora, who plays for Tijuana. Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray described him as a wonderkid. At last summer's Gold Cup, Mora became Mexico's youngest senior player aged 16, and coach Javier Aguirre then started him in the final, which Mexico won 2-1 against Mauricio Pochettino's United States in Houston. Mora is the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history, scoring for Tijuana in August 2024 when he was still 15. According to Steve Wilson, many home hopes will be pinned on Mora when Mexico kick off the World Cup against South Africa at the Azteca – if he can find a starting berth in Aguirre's side.
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators picked 20 players from outside the Premier League and Scottish Premiership to watch this summer, with Diomande and Mora among them. The tournament promises to be a stage where these young talents could announce themselves to the world.