Official World Cup Selections Announced

By Kwame Ofori — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Official World Cup Selections Announced

FIFA has unveiled its official FIFA World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament, following the conclusion of the competition. The newly crowned champions, Spain, are prominently featured with three players in the starting XI. The team is structured in a 4-3-3 formation and includes players from seven different nations, highlighting top performers throughout the tournament held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Spain’s successful campaign is reflected by the inclusion of defenders Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, alongside midfielder Rodri. Argentina, the runners-up, have two players in the side: captain Lionel Messi in the forward line and defender Lisandro Martínez. France is also represented by three players: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and centre-back Dayot Upamecano. England’s Jude Bellingham earned recognition for his performance, while Norway striker Erling Haaland was selected as the central forward. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha completes the XI, recognized for his heroic displays.

Writers’ Picks for the Best XI

In addition to FIFA’s official selection, several writers from a sports publication offered their own choices for the best XI of the World Cup. A specific rule was applied to these selections: a maximum of two players from any one nation could be chosen. This restriction led to some diverse and less conventional player selections.

One writer’s team included Spain’s captain Rodri and teenage central defender Pau Cubarsi. Other defensive choices included Diney from Cape Verde, who was noted for his performance in the group stage. In goal, while Vozinha received many votes for his contributions for Cape Verde, Egypt’s Mostafa Shobeir was also considered a strong candidate. The front six of this particular selection, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi, were considered essential inclusions, even with the imposed restrictions.

Colombia’s Daniel Munoz and England’s Djed Spence were recognized for their dynamic play on the flanks. Rodri was again considered an undisputed choice in midfield, with Bellingham positioned in a deeper midfield role to allow Messi to play as a No. 10. Michael Olise was moved to the right flank, and Mbappe to the left, to accommodate Haaland as the central striker, who had a return of seven goals from five games in his first World Cup.

A third writer emphasized the dominance of major stars like Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland, who collectively scored 25 goals. Rodri and Bellingham were also deemed too influential to overlook. For the defense, Cubarsi was a consistent pick. Munoz was noted for scoring a goal for Colombia, and Pico Lopes for his effort for Cape Verde. Spence was identified as one of the tournament’s surprise packages. Due to national player limits, Australia’s Patrick Beach was chosen in goal.

A further selection highlighted Rodri as a foundational player for Spain’s title run. Mbappe was considered unavoidable after winning the Golden Boot with 10 goals, and Messi was chosen as the chief creator. Vozinha’s performances for Cape Verde, including seven saves against Spain and eight against Argentina, were noted for adding romance to the tournament. Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes were picked for their pace, allowing Messi and Mbappe to move centrally. Manuel Akanji provided composure, and Cubarsi, the Best Young Player award winner, secured Spain’s second spot. Haaland was included as a focal point for the attack, and Olise was recognized for his seven assists, making him a standout provider.

The World Cup was also characterized by numerous underdog stories, with Vozinha, a clubless 40-year-old playing for Cape Verde, being the only goalkeeper to prevent Spain from scoring in the tournament’s early stages.