As the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 kicks off in Doha, the global spotlight will soon turn to a tournament that has long provided a platform for the next generation of football stars.
With 48 nations preparing to compete in Qatar for the second consecutive year under the expanded format, scouts, supporters and coaches will be following the young talents carrying their countries' hopes.
With more than 1,000 players set to take part, Striver.Football has selected 15 promising talents who could make their mark in Qatar.
Goalkeepers to watch at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Christian Lupo (Italy | UEFA)
Club: Lecce
Lupo heads to Qatar as a reigning European U-17 champion. Named in the 2026 UEFA U-17 EURO Team of the Tournament, he played every minute of Italy's successful campaign in Estonia and produced crucial penalty saves in the semi-final and final.
His command of the box makes Italy one of the toughest defensive nuts to crack.
Assane Sarr (Senegal | CAF)
Club: Ndangane FC
Senegal captured the 2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations crown in Rabat largely on the back of Sarr's commanding presence between the sticks.
Taking home the tournament's Golden Glove, Sarr couples elite athletic reach with fearless aerial dominance on set pieces.
Defenders to watch at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Filip Pavic (Croatia | UEFA)
Club: Bayern Munich
Developed within Bayern Munich's academy, Pavic brings tactical awareness and defensive composure to Croatia's backline.
He reads danger before it develops, steps cleanly into midfield to launch attacks, and anchors a Croatian side eyeing a deep tournament run.
Adam Soudi (Morocco | CAF)
Club: Toulouse
Selected for the 2026 CAF U-17 AFCON Best XI, Soudi played an important role in Morocco's run to the semi-finals on home soil.
He blends aggressive, front-foot one-on-one tackling with rapid recovery speed—traits that will be tested instantly in a brutal Group H alongside Spain and China PR.
Jin Yucheng (China PR | AFC)
Club: Lokomotiva Zagreb
As one of the few European-based players in China's squad, Yucheng has sharpened his trade in Croatia’s youth ranks. He acts as the vocal, structural organizer for a disciplined Chinese backline looking to spring group-stage upsets.
Harrison Bond (Australia | AFC)
Club: Red Bull Salzburg
Molded by Red Bull's high-octane, pressing philosophy, Bond is a modern, ball-playing center-back. Facing a clinical Argentina attack right out of the gate in Group C, his ability to win physical battles and distribute cleanly under pressure will dictate the Joeys' success.
Midfielders to watch at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Ebrima Tunkara (Spain | UEFA)
Club: FC Barcelona
One of the most exciting prospects heading to Qatar, Tunkara was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 UEFA U-17 EURO after leading the competition with four assists and 23 key passes.
Having already trained and earned a senior matchday squad call-up under Hansi Flick at Barcelona, his vision and final-third creativity set the gold standard for this generation.
Uriel Ojeda (Argentina | CONMEBOL)
Club: San Lorenzo
Wearing Argentina's legendary No. 10 shirt, Ojeda is the creative heartbeat of Diego Placente's side.
Protected by a $20 million buyout clause after making his senior Argentine Primera Division debut in 2026, Ojeda thrives in tight spaces, shifts effortlessly between a false nine and advanced playmaker, and loves the big stage.
Issa Chole (Tanzania | CAF)
Club: Fountain Gate Academy
Named Man of the Competition at the 2026 CAF U-17 AFCON, Chole played a central role in Tanzania's historic run to the final.
He dictates match tempos effortlessly with tireless running and progressive passing, setting up an unmissable Group I midfield chess match against Brazil.
Maki Kitahara (Japan | AFC)
Club: FC Tokyo (on loan at Fujieda MYFC)
Kitahara won both the Most Valuable Player and top scorer awards at the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.
Arriving in Doha with valuable senior J.League minutes under his belt, he combines surgical technical precision with lethal late runs into the box.
Ethan Dyer (New Zealand | OFC)
Club: Sydney FC
Bringing rare multi-tournament experience from the 2025 cycle, Dyer is the engine of Oceania's top contender. Having already tasted senior cup action for Sydney FC, he supplies relentless box-to-box industry and leadership.
Read More: FIFA U-17 World Cup winners ranked: Every champion from 1985 to 2025
Forwards to watch at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Eduardo Conceicao (Brazil | CONMEBOL)
Club: Palmeiras
Identified by FIFA as one of Brazil's players to watch, Conceicao is another exciting prospect to emerge from the Palmeiras academy that previously developed Endrick and Estevao.
Wearing Brazil's iconic No. 10, he possesses explosive change-of-pace acceleration, unteachable flair, and the instinct to settle tight matches out of nowhere.
Malik Jakupovic (USA | Concacaf)
Club: Philadelphia Union
Few youngsters heading to Qatar match Jakupovic's senior club exposure. He has regularly featured in MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup matches for Philadelphia—even netting his maiden senior MLS goal—giving the U.S. a physically imposing, ruthless focal point in attack.
Stephen "Kiki" Ramos (Haiti | Concacaf)
Club: Velez Sarsfield
One of the tournament's most fascinating storylines, Port-au-Prince-born Ramos scored 30 goals in 68 youth matches in Argentina before switching allegiance from Argentina to Haiti. His razor-sharp movement and finishing instantly turn Haiti into a dangerous counter-puncher.
James Bogere (Uganda | CAF)
Club: Aarhaus
Bogere played an important role in Uganda's qualification campaign, and his strength in transition and penalty-area presence could make him a key attacking option for the team in Group B.
Honorable Mention
Dismas Shida Athanasi (Tanzania | CAF)
Position: Forward
Shida only missed out on the main list because teammate Issa Chole claimed Tanzania's single-nation spotlight, but he is impossible to leave off.
At just 14 years old, Athanasi was the youngest player at the 2026 CAF U-17 AFCON and finished as the tournament's top scorer with three goals, earning the Golden Boot.
Paired alongside Chole's playmaking, Shida gives Tanzania a terrifying two-pronged punch to test Brazil, Ireland, and Costa Rica in Group I.
Why the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup matters for football's next generation
The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Doha will be a transformative watershed for global youth football. With an expanded 48-nation format, the tournament shifts from a traditional sprint into a true global marathon where depth, squad rotation, and mental resilience will separate the pretenders from the champions.
For players emerging from European academies, South American clubs and developing football nations across Africa and Asia, the tournament from 19 November to 13 December offers an opportunity to showcase their talent on the global stage.
