Ten Concacaf players set to shine
Have a look at the 10 players from around the Concacaf region who are poised to flourish at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Concacaf will have a minimum of six teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026
USA’s Weston McKennie and Mexico’s Johan Vasquez are among those in top form
FIFA examines the players from the region who are poised to shine in the global finals
There will be a strong Concacaf flavour at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Canada, Mexico and USA serving as co-hosts and joined by fellow confederation sides Curaçao, Haiti and Panama, plus possibly two others in Jamaica and Suriname should they emerge victorious from the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
A large portion of the attention will be focused on the region’s two superstars, Christian Pulisic of USA and Canada’s Alphonso Davies, but a healthy slew of players spread across the six participants are also set to excel in the global finals.
Aside from Pulisic and Davies, FIFA have a look at ten Concacaf players that are ready to be leading lights for their nations in North America.
While the likes of Davies or Jonathan David receive much of the attention surrounding Canada Soccer, it is FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ veteran Eustaquio who keeps the engine humming in midfield. After four years with Portuguese powers Porto, Eustaquio joined Major League (MLS) giants LAFC on loan in order to boost his minutes ahead of the global showpiece. Eustaquio’s strength is his ability to dictate play and should arrive into the World Cup in top form for head coach Jesse Marsch.
Buchanan first caught the attention of everyone in Concacaf with a sensational goal in Canada’s narrow 2-1 loss to Mexico in the 2021 Gold Cup semi-finals, and he would go on to appear for the Reds at Qatar 2022. Injuries have exacted a toll in recent years, but since joining Spanish side Villarreal in early 2025, Buchanan has come into his own. A winger with devastating pace and a fearlessness to take on defenders 1v1, Buchanan only strengthens what is already a robust transition game for the Canadians.
There is no shortage of heroes when it comes to Curaçao’s epic qualification, but certainly toward the top of the list is the 22-year-old Dutch-born wing-back. Comenencia tormented opponents in qualifying with making perfectly-timed runs into the opposing area, finding space for a cut-back pass and then getting a clear look at goal. The FC Zurich man had a goal and an assist during qualifying and his playmaking ability will assuredly be called upon in the Caribbean island’s maiden World Cup.
If there is a goal to be had by Haiti at the World Cup, there is a really good chance it will come from Nazon. The 31-year-old striker finished as the joint-top scorer in all of Concacaf qualifying with six goals, including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw at Costa Rica. Nazon thrives in international tournaments, having scored goals in three different editions of the Gold Cup, and now gets his dream shot in the biggest showcase of all. A powerful striker who expertly can hold up play and then lay-off for overlapping runners, Nazon also hurts opposing defenses with his clever movement and powerful shooting. His nose for goal will make him one of the most feared frontmen in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.
An ankle injury has plagued the 24-year-old striker, but a return to fitness this month for AC Milan is an auspicious sign for the coming months. Gimenez narrowly missed out on Qatar 2022 as one of the last cuts from Gerardo Martino’s squad, but he will be the main man up front on home soil, along with veteran striker Raul Jimenez. Excellent technique is what helps set Gimenez apart, and a Mexico attack keen on putting opponents to the sword in transition will be relying on the touch and turns that he provides. Inside the box he is as good as any striker in the Concacaf region and has a strong knack for finding space in front of goal.
Mexico have a long history of defensive anchors who bring stability and order. El Tricolor have been blessed by the likes of Javier Guzman, Fernando Quirarte, Claudio Suarez, Rafael Marquez, and now in present day that responsibility falls to Vasquez. He is a weekly 90-minute man for Serie A side Genoa and brings that same effectiveness to Mexico with ball recoveries, blocks, interceptions, clearances and victorious aerial duels. The left-footed Vasquez is an adept passer and has shown an improved ability in recent season on the attacking end in set pieces. Head coach Javier Aguirre will feel very assured knowing that he can hand the defensive keys to Vasquez.
Since Carrasquilla became a mainstay in Thomas Christiansen’s starting XI, Panama have emerged as the top team in Central America and now routinely reach Concacaf finals, such as the 2023 Gold Cup and the 2025 Nations League. The 27-year-old can either play a box-to-box role or can pull the strings in attack with his pinpoint passing and superb vision. He is the all-terrain vehicle for Los Canaleros and will be the key ingredient to their transition game from defence to attack.
Consistently one of the most underrated players in Concacaf, Murillo excels at right back for Panama and will be one of the players on Christiansen’s squad who can point to experience at Russia 2018. At 30 years of age, his pace is still very much intact as it was eight years ago, and the desire to take on and beat defenders 1v1 remains the same. Over time his passing and crossing has improved, as has his defensive work, often snuffing out an opponent's counter-attack.
If there was ever a footballer who could be called a Swiss Army knife, it would be McKennie. The native Texan has seemingly played every position in his time at Juventus outside of goalkeeper, but with USA, he is firmly entrenched in midfield, the only question is where. The 27-year-old packs a punch when he plays higher up the pitch and is capable of scoring in acrobatic fashion, such as thumping home a header or latching onto a quick one-two combination in tight spaces. It remains to be seen where head coach Mauricio Pochettino plans to utilize McKennie, but there is no doubting the work rate and heart that he brings to a side.
Richards has become one of the first names on Pochettino’s teamsheet, anchoring a back three that has conceded just four goals in their last five outings. The Alabama-born defender plays with a quiet confidence that permeates within the rest of the squad, but still with a physical edge that intimidates opponents, With two goals during the 2025 Gold Cup, Richards showcased his offensive prowess, while in defence it’s hard to find a more decisive and determined centre-back.