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10 players at World Cup 2026 you completely forgot about
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- 10 players at World Cup 2026 you completely forgot about
10 players at World Cup 2026 you completely forgot about
One of the great joys of the World Cup is discovering players you have never seen or even heard of, but there is also delight to be found in rediscovering footballers who have been out of the limelight for years.
We've picked out a glut of players who we think fit that description ahead of this summer's tournament in Canada , Mexico and the USA.
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10 players at World Cup 2026 you completely forgot about:
Miguel Almiron – Paraguay
It's only been 18 months since Miguel Almiron left Newcastle United , but it feels like he has been gone forever. Aside from a purple patch in 2022, the attacker didn't make much of an impact at St. James' Park during his six-year spell.
Almiron, who is playing his club football with MLS side Atlanta United , will be starring for Paraguay this summer.
Enner Valencia – Ecuador
It's been 12 years since Enner Valencia announced himself on the global stage when he scored three goals at the 2014 World Cup, and he is still Ecuador's main goal threat.
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The striker earned himself a move to West Ham United that summer, but he only barely beat his tally from that tournament, scoring four goals in his debut Premier League campaign. He went on loan to Everton , where he found the net three times in 21 league appearances.
Valencia now lines out for Internacional in Brazil , having also played for Mexican club Tigres and Fenerbahce in Turkey. He's scored 50 goals in 150 international caps.
Read – Our writers' predictions for the 2026 World Cup
Memphis Depay – Netherlands
Memphis Depay's move to Manchester United over a decade ago was such a big deal that he sold more jerseys than any other player in 2015. His actual performances on the pitch rarely lived up to the hype, though.
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The 32-year-old wide forward ended up at Barcelona after resurrecting his career with Lyon, before joining Atletico Madrid in 2023. The following year, however, he made the unexpected decision to join Brazilian outfit Corinthians and he has been there ever since.
Depay remains a regular fixture in the Netherlands squad and is somehow their all-time top goalscorer with 55 goals.
Read – Five players we're gutted are missing the 2026 World Cup
Nicolas Pepe – Ivory Coast
Once Arsenal 's most expensive signing, Nicolas Pepe left the Gunners to join Trabzonspor on a free transfer in 2023, going down as one of the biggest wastes of money in Premier League history.
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The winger, though, is coming off the back of a good season for Villarreal , having registered eight goals and eight assists in La Liga. Ivory Coast will be hoping he can bring that form into the World Cup.
Read – Every Premier League player at the FIFA World Cup 2026
Caglar Soyuncu – Turkey
A solid performer for most of his five-year stint at Leicester City, Caglar Soyuncu barely played in his final season with the Foxes after falling out with then manager Brendan Rodgers. Though he returned to the starting lineup when Dean Smith replaced Rodgers, City were relegated in 2023.
The centre-back joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer that summer, but the move didn't work out and he moved back to his native Turkey in 2024, joining Fenerbahce.
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Read – The players with the most free-kick goals in World Cup history
Jordan Ayew – Ghana
There's a fair chance that you, dear reader, don't know that Jordan Ayew is still playing his club football in England. The 34-year-old remained with Leicester City after they were relegated from the Premier League and scored a grand total of two goals this season as they went down to League One. That was the fifth relegation of his career to date.
Despite being a walking bad luck charm, the former Aston Villa and Crystal Palace man will be going to the World Cup as Ghana's most capped player, a record he holds with his brother, Andre.
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World Cup 2026 – Every squad list in full ahead of tournament
Wout Weghorst – Netherlands
Remember when Manchester United signed big Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley and he scored precisely zero goals for the Red Devils? The Erik ten Hag era was a truly extraordinary time.
The target man left Burnley to join Ajax two years ago and he's been relatively productive for them, scoring 20 goals in all competitions over the past two seasons. It's remarkable that the Netherlands have not produced a striker to replace him, though.
Read – Remembering the last five winners of the World Cup Golden Ball
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Nelson Semedo – Portugal
Yet another former Premier League player who ended up at Fenerbahce, Nelson Semedo joined Wolves from Barcelona in 2020 and went on to be a regular starter, making 160 Premier League appearances.
At 32, Semedo is almost certain to be Portugal's first-choice right-back at the World Cup.
Read – The biggest wins in FIFA World Cup history
Tahith Chong – Curaçao
Tahith Chong is the kind of player who ends up in an article headlined: What happened to every Manchester United academy graduate who played under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Well, let me tell you.
After rising through the ranks to the senior team as a promising midfielder, winning the club's young player of the year award along the way, Chong joined Birmingham City in 2022. His career appeared to be heading in the right direction when he was signed by Luton Town following their promotion to the Premier League.
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Unfortunately for him, the Hatters were instantly relegated back to the Championship and then relegated again to the third tier. He subsequently joined Sheffield United, who were mired in a relegation battle until they rallied in the second half of the season for a mid-table finish.
Chong was capped at every youth level by the Netherlands but, having been born in Curaçao, switched his international allegiance last year ahead of their qualification for the World Cup. He has won six caps since then, scoring three goals.
Read – The four nations going to their first ever World Cup this year
Jean Michaël Seri – Ivory Coast
The streets won't forget Jean Michaël Seri, who made an impressive start to life at Fulham when he scored a goal of the season contender against Burnley in 2018. Unfortunately, the rest of the campaign didn't go so well, as the Cottagers were relegated.
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Seri spent the following two years out on loan before returning to play a key role in Fulham winning the Championship title in style. The midfielder was released at the end of that season and has been on a random journey ever since. He played for Hull City for two years before heading off to Saudi Arabia , but he currently plays for Maribor in Slovenia.
The 34-year-old, who helped the Ivory Coast win AFCON in 2023, will be making his World Cup debut this year.
Read – The clubs with the most players at the 2026 World Cup
See Also – Every Premier League player at the FIFA World Cup 2026
