Five Rising Stars Who Could Make Their World Cup Debut in 2030

The excitement of the 2026 World Cup is palpable, with nearly 900 players participating for the first time. Those making their debut this year will proudly wear a special ‘FIFA Commemorative Patch’ on their right sleeve.

However, several talented players missed the opportunity to showcase their skills this year, and they are setting their sights on the 2030 tournament. Here are five stars who could be making their World Cup debuts in four years.

Potential First-Time World Cup Players in 2030

© Imago / Action Plus.

Cole Palmer’s exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad raised eyebrows, as the 24-year-old missed out on playing at his first World Cup. After a challenging season with Chelsea marred by injuries, Palmer managed only 11 goals across all competitions, a stark contrast to his previous seasons where he netted 25 and 18 goals.

Tuchel explained Palmer’s absence, stating, “His record with us was just not outstanding, not good enough to make him a definite. That is just the reality of it. It is a very difficult decision.” Despite this setback, Palmer is expected to establish himself as a key player for England by the next World Cup.

© Iconsport / PA Images.

Another promising talent, Estevao Willian, would likely have made his World Cup debut for Brazil if not for a serious hamstring injury suffered in April. Estevao shared his disappointment with ESPN, saying, “Playing in the World Cup is a dream come true… I cried so much in my parents’ arms; it’s in moments like these that you need the people you love.” The 19-year-old had an impressive debut season at Chelsea, contributing to 12 goals in 36 appearances.

© Iconsport / DeFodi Images.

Lennart Karl was also sidelined due to injury despite being named in Germany’s squad; he was replaced by Assan Ouedraogo after suffering a thigh problem. The 18-year-old had an outstanding breakout season at Bayern Munich, contributing to 17 goals over 40 appearances. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed regret about not having Karl on the team but acknowledged his potential for future tournaments.

© Iconsport / Adam Gee/News Images/Sipa USA.

The youngest player on this list, Max Dowman made headlines last season by becoming the youngest Premier League goalscorer at just 16 years old. He made 13 first-team appearances and is expected to play a more significant role for Arsenal next season. Dowman has drawn comparisons to legends like Kaka and Lionel Messi and will likely be an established England player by the time of the next World Cup.

© Imago / SOPA Images.

Franco Mastantuono was another notable omission from Argentina’s squad after head coach Lionel Scaloni trimmed down a preliminary list of players. Seen as a potential successor to Lionel Messi, Mastantuono joined Real Madrid from River Plate last summer and began his career at the Bernabeu promisingly. However, his playing time diminished following coaching changes and he will have to continue developing before making an impact in future tournaments.