Six standout young players who lit up World Cup’s first round of matches
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Yasin Ayari scored one of the goals of the tournament David Ramos/Getty Images
By Greg O'KeeffeJune 18, 2026 UpdatedIt is the ultimate stage where reputations can be forged before the biggest audience — and some of the World Cup’s young stars have already risen to the occasion.
Jude Bellingham and Desire Doue are well known to many around the world, but other rising stars have quickly shone in the tournament’s opening round of fixtures.
Here are six less widely known players, aged 22 or under, who have hit the ground running.
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Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, for Morocco v Brazil, June 14
The 18-year-old looked like he had played at this level for decades at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. Undaunted by the reputation of his opponents, at times Bouaddi ran the midfield and seemed to get stronger as the game wore on.
How Morocco fans must be thanking their lucky stars that the teenager, who had captained France’s Under-21s, decided to switch international allegiance just a month ago.
Supporters of his club Lille may have watched with bittersweet feelings, as this underlining of his vast potential will only encourage suitors this summer.
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Nestory Irankunda, 20, for Australia vs Turkey, June 14
He learned under Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, and his celebration on Saturday showed he has watched some of Tim Cahill’s highlights too — but Nestory Irankunda is ready to create his own legacy at this World Cup.
Irankunda’s incredible story — a Burundian refugee born in Tanzania whose family settled in South Australia — is matched by promise on the field. He has pace to burn as he showed against the ageing Turkey defence, combined with an unerring eye for goal that would have had former Bayern team-mate Kane nodding in approval.
He is ambitious, too. Irankundaleft left Bayern to ensure playing time elsewhere and is honing his craft in the EFL Championship at Watford. It meant Tony Popovic was convinced he was ready for the Socceroo squad this summer, and it already looks like a smart decision.
(Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Ben Gannon-Doak, 20, for Scotland vs Haiti, June 14
His evening might have ended in discomfort, limping from the pitch with cramp in his calves, but everything before that was bursting with positivity for Ben Gannon-Doak.
The Bournemouth midfielder was Scotland’s creative outlet in a 1-0 win over Haiti in Group C. He played his part in the few opportunities they created — a Scott McTominay shot and John McGinn’s eventual goal — and the 20-year-old wore his heart on his sleeve by even celebrating a goal kick with passion.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke will be relieved the former Liverpool academy star is fit to continue where he left off when the Scots face a sterner test against Morocco on Friday.
Gannon-Doak is a character too, and may be the joker in the pack of Clarke’s squad. In the build-up to the Morocco game, he admitted he needed to be substituted against Haiti, saying: “I was needing (to be) hooked. Both my calves decided to leave the stadium before me. I was more than happy to get my backside on a chair.”
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Yasin Ayari, 22, for Sweden vs Tunisia, June 15
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It took only seven minutes for Yasin Ayari to announce his talent to this tournament. Close observers of Sweden will recall him starring in the UEFA play-off final win over Poland that secured his side’s ticket to North America. Premier League fans may have noted his displays at Brighton.
But to neutrals, his ability for the spectacular was there for all to see against Tunisia, the nation of his father’s birth.
The midfielder seized on a ball punched from the Tunisian area, took one touch and then unleashed a venomous shot that curled into the net. For good measure, he scored his side’s final goal in added time too.
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Yan Diomande, 19, for Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, June 15
So this is what the hype is all about.
Master-dribbler Yan Diomande’s World Cup bow did not disappoint, with the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger dictating the game for much of the second half in Philadelphia. Piero Hincapie impressed at Arsenal last season, but he had his hands full with the Ivorian, who has the highest take-on success rate of any winger in Europe.
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Diomande created the most chances (five) in the game, and had the most touches (12) in the opposition box of any player, according to Opta. No wonder big European sides, such as Liverpool, are watching closely, and why Leipzig value him at €130million (£112.4m, $151.2m).
Watching him flourish in this tournament is going to be fun.
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Caleb Yirenkyi, 20, for Ghana vs Panama, June 18
They left it very late in Toronto, but Ghana eventually found a way past Panama in added time, and it was their exciting midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi who delivered.
The 20-year-old plays for Nordsjaelland in Denmark after developing at the Right to Dream Academy in his homeland. Yirenkyi’s capacity to cover ground, break up play and distribute the ball has already earned comparisons to Michael Essien. Ghana think he can develop into a dynamic ball-winner who can anchor multiple midfield systems for years to come.
Against Panama on Thursday, Yirenkyi made the difference in the 95th minute, after a standout performance when he completed the game’s most dribbles.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
