Presenting the World Cup newcomers who are ready to sparkle in Qatar! ✨
With the most prestigious international football competition in the world now just weeks away, the excitement is building as squad announcements continue to pour in.
Ahead of the showpiece tournament, we've come up with an XI made up entirely of players aged 23 or under who have yet to play in a World Cup.
From Jude Bellingham to William Saliba, Vinicius Junior to Darwin Nunez, these are the World Cup newcomers who are ready to shine in the Middle East.
Getty ImagesGK: Diogo Costa – Portugal
The Porto goalkeeper has made the Portugal number one spot his own since gaining his first senior international cap in October 2021.
Rui Patricio was between the sticks for the three World Cup qualifiers that followed Costa’s debut, but when the playoffs came around in March 2022, the youngster took over and helped secure the team’s passage into the finals.
Costa, who represented his country at many youth levels before breaking into the first team, was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year in 2021-22 as Porto won the title.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Sergino Dest – USA
Dest will be 22 when the World Cup begins but he has already played in the Eredivisie, La Liga, Serie A, and Champions League.
Having been born in the Netherlands, Dest committed to play for the USMNT when he was 18 years old, and the AC Milan loanee has gone on to play 19 games for the Stars and Stripes.
An attacking full-back that is not afraid to take players on, Dest is set to be one of the most exciting young defenders taking part in the World Cup.
Getty ImagesCB: William Saliba – France
Saliba’s loan spells at Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille since joining Arsenal as a teenager look to have been a stroke of genius from the north Londoners.
The 21-year-old has slotted straight into the Gunners defence this season and looks as comfortable, assured, and physically dominant as you could hope for.
France have an embarrassment of riches at the centre-back position, but surely Didier Deschamps will have to include Saliba in his starting XI based on current form.
Getty ImagesCB: Josko Gvardiol – Croatia
Runners-up in 2018, Croatia’s best ever squad is now an ageing one but they will be hoping that talented newcomers like Gvardiol can steer them towards the latter stages again.
The RB Leipzig man played at left-back throughout Euro 2020, but has since operated at the centre of defence – just like he usually does for his club.
Online betting sites have priced Croatia at 20/1 to reach the World Cup final for the second time on the bounce.