The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have 48 nations, 104 matches and a thousand storylines, but nothing like the arrival of a new generation of players announcing themselves on the world's biggest stage. These are the players who watched the 2022 Qatar finals as schoolboys and are now walking into dressing rooms alongside Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappé.

The expanded format means more room for young talent to showcase their game. Here are 10 under-21 players stepping onto the World Cup stage for the very first time.