48 teams, 48 professionals
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The countdown to the 2026 World Cup has begun: 48 nations will fight for the most coveted trophy in international football starting next Thursday, June 11th. We have pooled the global expertise of our transfer market employees from five continents and, in the run-up to the tournament, are presenting one player from each team who is a must-have on the list in the next six weeks: from potential rising stars to possible surprises to veterans hungry for success – we continue with Group D, consisting of the United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey.
World Cup 2026: 48 teams, 48 players
Christian Pulisic: America’s hope between light and shadow
Manuel Veth, Area Manager North America at Transfermarkt: Expectations were huge when Christian Pulisic first appeared on the big stage at Borussia Dortmund a decade ago. His move to Chelsea FC was supposed to make Pulisic the USA’s first real global soccer star. Although he was extremely productive at times and won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, he never made his final breakthrough in the Premier League.
In 2023 Pulisic finally moved on to AC Milan. There he found the splendor of his Dortmund days again. Pulisic played direct, scored goals and became a big star in Italian football. But this season was difficult. Injuries meant Pulisic never received the consistent playing time he needed to get into top form. On a good day he is quick and direct, almost impossible to defend. On bad days he completely disappears. There were more bad days than good days this season. Now he will be the figurehead of the US national team at the World Cup. Can he withstand this pressure? Time will tell.
Julio Enciso: Paraguay’s central pillar has matured into a team player
Nicolás Vázquez, Paraguay data scout at Transfermarkt: Julio Enciso is clearly the central man for the Paraguay national team this summer. He seems much more mature and is no longer just a strong dribbler, but has also become a real team player. He is trying to take on a lot more responsibility in attack and the World Cup is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do and cement his status as a real Paraguayan star. However, Albirroja still has to worry about their most valuable player – in the last test against Nicaragua, the 22-year-old had to be carried off the pitch after being injured in tears (click here for all the details).
He scored twelve goals and assisted nine more for Strasbourg in all competitions this season. After a quieter phase in England, he is now again showing the qualities that were first seen during his breakthrough at Brighton in the 2022/23 season. If Paraguay wants to play a good World Cup, Enciso will be crucial. Watch out for his long range shots…
Nestory Irankunda: Game changer for the Socceroos?
Klevio, Australia data scout at Transfermarkt: While Jackson Irvine and captain Mathew Ryan have arguably been among the country’s most important players in recent years, there is one talented gem that cannot be overlooked: Nestory Irankunda. He was first called up to the national team for two friendly matches in March 2023, having just turned 17 the month before. However, he only made his debut in the senior team in June 2024, when he was in the starting line-up against Bangladesh, contributed an assist and even scored in the 5-0 win against Palestine in the following game. He has already scored five goals in his 13 international matches for Australia so far.
He is known for his enormous speed and his powerful right foot, as well as being an excellent dribbler – and he can also shoot free kicks. These characteristics make him extremely awkward to defend, especially in one-on-one situations. He is primarily used as a right winger, but he can also play on the opposite wing or occasionally up front. It is unclear whether Tony Popovic will use him regularly from the start. But even as a substitute, he definitely has the ability to give the team new impetus offensively and become a game changer for the Socceroos.
Kenan Yildiz: With Güler, the new faces of the new generation
Lara Karacan, Area Manager Türkiye at Transfermarkt: Despite being only 21 years old, Kenan Yıldız is already one of the biggest hopes in Turkish football. The German-born Juventus star, who would have been eligible to play for both nations, chose Turkey early in his career and quickly became a key player for the national team alongside Arda Güler. The duo is considered the face of the new Turkish generation and already bears enormous responsibility with a view to the World Cup.
Yıldız also took a bold step at club level when he left FC Bayern’s academy and moved to Juventus in order to get a better chance of playing time in the first team. The move quickly paid off: the attacker became a fan favorite in Turin and inherited the club’s legendary number 10 shirt. Even in a difficult season for Juventus, he was one of the team’s most noticeable players. The World Cup could now be the perfect stage for Yıldız to take the next step. A strong tournament would not only be crucial to his country’s ambitions, but could also increase his market value and further cement his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.