World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland, Yan Diomande among players to have caught the eye in the first week of the tournament
All 48 teams competing in the 2026 World Cup have played their first group games - and the Sky Sports journalists have picked out 10 players who've caught the eye, including South Korea's Kang-in Lee, Norway's Erling Haaland and Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:31, UK
Believe it or not, the first round of group games at the 2026 World Cup is complete.
All 48 teams at this summer's tournament have played at least once - and, having covered every single game, the Sky Sports journalists have picked out 10 players who have caught the eye so far...
Haaland takes to a new competition with ease - again
The Austrian Bundesliga, the Bundesliga, the Premier League, the Champions League. Everywhere Erling Haaland has gone, in every competition he has played in, he has settled immediately.
So it was perhaps no surprise that one of the world's most fearsome strikers would take to the World Cup like a duck to water, too.
Less than 30 minutes into his tournament debut - and Norway's first appearance since 1998 - he was off the mark against Iraq with a tap-in. Before the break, he had taken advantage of a calamitous error to score another. He played a part in the fourth goal, too.
And all that with just 20 touches throughout the entirety of the game in Boston. That is nothing new, but it is a reminder of the devastating impact he can have without touching the ball.
The 25-year-old is among the favourites for the Golden Boot and it is easy to see why. You would not bet against him making significant progress towards the all-time record of 16 World Cup goals, either...
Dan Long
- World Cup 2026 fixtures and schedule
- England's fixtures and routes to final | Scotland's fixtures and routes to final
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Liverpool target Diomande sparkles
Many of Europe's top clubs are keeping close tabs on exciting RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande at this summer's World Cup and judging by his eye-catching display in his country's 1-0 victory against Ecuador on Monday, you can see exactly why.
Diomande, who can play on both wings, was a livewire throughout at the Philadelphia Stadium, giving Ecuador left-back Piero Hincapie a torrid time and certainly making him look more ruffled than at any time for Arsenal last season.
Of particular interest to Liverpool fans watching the contest in the US was Diomande's impact down the right flank, where his mesmeric dribbling was a joy to behold, given the Reds are reportedly trying hard to sign the forward as a replacement for the now-departed Mo Salah.
The twinkle-toed forward produced a player-of-the-match display, becoming the first player Opta has on record since 1966 to create 5+ chances (5), make 5+ tackles (5), win 10+ duels (11) and have 10+ touches in the opposition's box (12) in a FIFA World Cup match.
Many more performances like that and Leipzig's £86m asking price for the 19-year-old will be significantly higher.
Rich Morgan
Teenager Bouaddi illustrates why his stock is so high
Ayyoub Bouaddi was tipped as one to watch this summer - and he proved just why in Morocco's opener.
The midfielder was born in France and a France international up to U21 level, but switched his allegiance in May. Though he does not turn 19 until October, he already has 96 first team appearances for Lille under his belt.
Just his fourth appearance for Les Dogues came against Brazil. Yet Bouaddi was far from overawed. In fact, he completed 60 passes. After Spain's Gavi in 2022 (67), he is the second-youngest player to complete 50+ passes in a World Cup match in the last 60 years.
It is little wonder interest in Bouaddi is high. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are said to be interested, while The Times reported last week Arsenal had begun talks to sign him.
He is under contract at Stade Pierre-Mauroy until 2029, but his time there may be cut-short if he continues in this vein.
Dan Long
Vozinha an overnight sensation after heroic performance
When Cape Verde pulled off a miraculous 0-0 draw in their World Cup debut against favourites Spain, all the talk was about one man.
Over the course of 90 minutes, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became a sensation. His seven saves secured an almighty point, his emotional reaction come the full-time whistle pulled at the heart strings. His comments on his grandparents and mother only added to that.
Before the game, he had only 50,000 Instagram followers. At the time of writing, that figure has risen to well over 8m. Expect it to reach at least 10m come the end of the tournament.
At his age, is this going to springboard a career-altering move? No. But it was a life-changing performance nonetheless and nothing will change that.
Vozinha was at the heart of the underdog stories that makes people fall in love with sport. The story of his display will be told for years to come and may well become an urban myth as time goes on. After all, how could a man no one knew about keep out arguably the best team on the planet? That sounds like fiction to me. Get the film scripts written.
Callum Bishop
Balogun can inspire US charge - ahead of Pulisic
- USA 4-1 Paraguay - Match report
- How Folarin Balogun went from Arsenal and England U21s to America's star
Internally, Folarin Balogun has been seen as the answer to the US's long-running No 9 problem for some time. But now it has been announced to the world stage.
The 24-year-old, who represented England across four youth age groups before switching allegiance in 2023, has since gone on to score for the country of his birth in a CONCACAF Nations League final and twice in the 2024 Copa America, among nine goals in 27 games coming into the World Cup.
But in a sparkling performance from the hosts, living up to their self-billing of potential tournament winners - not a prediction universally shared perhaps - Balogun's stock rose to new levels.
Christian Pulisic was meant to be the main man for his country and did pull the strings in the 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay before he was withdrawn as a precuaition half-time. But Balogun's smart runs and composure in front of goal earned him a first-half double which even the AC Milan winger could not usurp in their 45 minutes together.
Balogun's intriguing background has become as much of an overnight story, with his mother giving birth in Brooklyn only because she had been ruled too heavily pregnant to travel home from a holiday to New York.
Rarely has such a major inconvenience been so widely celebrated - but if Balogun keeps up this form, with the likes of Weston McKennie and Pulisic also shining so far, there is no reason he cannot lead the US deep into the tournament.
Ron Walker
Gannon-Doak shines in first Scotland win since 1990
It was a joy to watch Ben Gannon-Doak make his World Cup debut for Scotland against Haiti - even if it meant waking up at 1.30am.
He had all the confidence and joy a 20-year-old should have on the world's biggest stage. The Bournemouth winger was key in a lot of the Tartan Army's positive attacking play, of which there was a lot, as they secured their first World Cup win since 1990.
Gannon-Doak made the most number of dribbles (6) of any player in the game, had the joint-highest number of shots and chances created in the Scotland team (both 2).
He perhaps has a bit of a point to prove too. He was out of action for five months after he sustained a hamstring injury in November's thrilling 4-2 win over Denmark to secure Scotland's spot at the World Cup.
Gannon-Doak assisted Scott McTominay's now-iconic goal in that game too, and it would have been touch-and-go for a while on whether he would be included for the tournament at all.
But any potential lingering doubts were soon extinguished when he had a hand in another historic Scotland goal as John McGinn fired home in the 28th minute.
He could be in contention for the Young Player of the Tournament award if he continues contributing as he did in Boston. A World Cup debut to be proud of.
Charlotte Marsh
Lee shows he's one to watch
Any hardy souls who stayed up to watch South Korea's Group A clash against Czech Republic were rewarded with an extremely impressive performance from Kang-In Lee, who demonstrated outstanding technical quality to inspire his country's 2-1 win.
The Czechs couldn't handle the playmaker's clever movement between the lines. He provided the assist for Hwang-In Beom's opener, one of three chances created, while also making the second-most dribbles of any player at the tournament so far, with five.
The 25-year-old was fouled four times in the game, a statistic which reflects his elusiveness, and also completed every one of his 38 passes, underlining the ability on the ball that earned him a transfer from Mallorca to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Lee, a squad player amid PSG's stars, could be on the move again this summer, with Atletico Madrid among his reported suitors. If he follows up his performance against Czech Republic with more of the same against Mexico and South Africa, the list of clubs making enquiries is likely to become longer.
Nick Wright
Mbaye makes history - and a case to start Senegal's next game
It took Ibrahim Mbaye just 21 minutes to put himself in the record books in Senegal's defeat to France.
The 18-year-old's explosive finish saw him become Africa's youngest ever goalscorer at a World Cup and the second youngest player to score on his debut in the competition.
Having given his side momentary hope, Kylian Mbappe would go on to steal the spotlight, scoring arguably the goal of the tournament so far just one minute later.
There is an irony in Mbappe being the one to claw back centre stage from Mbaye. The Senegalese teenager is a highly-regarded prospect at Mbappe's former side PSG and represented France at youth level.
Senegal boss Pape Thiaw now faces the dilemma of whether he starts Mbaye in a big game against Norway. Having made such an instant impact against France the temptation will surely be there.
Dom Ball
Anderson adds England bite on assured World Cup debut
Elliot Anderson is subject to transfer rumours this summer, and if he has a good World Cup, can add a few more million into Nottingham Forest's coffers.
If his World Cup debut against Croatia is anything to go by, that is very much expected to happen.
Anderson added an additional bite and reliability alongside Declan Rice in midfield. His press was outstanding, his tackles brilliant and passing great when his team-mates were still getting to grips with things.
He ended the game having been involved in 11 duels - winning six - and won possession back eight times for his team with four interceptions - all numbers which were England's highest.
The Forest man also released Bellingham for England's third goal in an intense start to the second half.
Credit too has to go to Noni Madueke for his right-wing runs, especially in a first half when England needed to be more forward thinking, but Anderson's overall play just pips him to an inclusion.
But both players, based on Wednesday's showing, will be vital for England in this tournament.
Charlotte Marsh
Just makes history for New Zealand
The World Cup creates national heroes - and Eli Just has become just that for New Zealand.
The forward is the first All White to score two goals in a World Cup game, with Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood providing both assists, as they drew 2-2 with the more experienced Iranians.
Both goals were taken extremely well as New Zealand made a statement of intent on their return to the tournament after 16 years away.
It continues a fine rise for the 26-year-old. He had a steady first season at Motherwell, scoring seven goals in 31 Scottish Premiership appearances as the club finished in fourth place.
Just also offers hope to those players who are deemed too small to play football. He is 5'8 and slight, but more than held his own on the biggest international stage.
Egypt and Belgium are to come and will arguably offer a sterner test, but Just will be confident he can continue to contribute as New Zealand eye a spot in the knockout rounds. Charlotte Marsh
