Live from New York, it's the show that's counting down the 26 players who will define World Cup 2026. It's the single best event in sports. It's all in Fox and FS1. I've got a winner that I want to give out during this show. Wow. I can't wait. Let's go. Okay. Here comes the countdown. We're going to start with Weston McKinney of the United States of America. Listen, he's 27 years old. He plays for Juventus. He can play literally any position but keeper. He's in the midst of his best club league season, including scoring four goals in the Champions League. If the United States is finally going to make it past their glass ceiling of the round of 16 and return to the quarterfinals, he might be the single most influential player and as you're seeing in these highlights, you're going to see him all over the pitch playing again. Any of 10 different spots on the field, he might be the X factor for the United States. Love it. Moving on to number 25, Saka, only 24 years old already in his second World Cup. Brew, three goals for England in 2022. Arsenal wing, one of the best passers in the world, plays with a joy. Fun to watch. First of three Englishmen on the list. Don't forget I have England to win it. No. To go further than usual. Well, yeah. Well, it's the World Cup and it's England. So that's I mean, hedging your better bit. No, they've they've not doubted. They went in for the first time in 60s since 66. Could they? Maybe. Yeah. I think maybe is probably. I'm a lean towards slim, but hey, it's still my adopt one of my adopted squads. That's good. Number 24, Brew, Mo Salah. Yeah, I mean, Kenny returned to form that he showed a year or so ago and leading Egypt to the knockout rounds. And he's one of the greatest African players of all time. All right. Two time African footballer of the year. Last year he was phenomenal for Liverpool, leading him to the Premier League championship. But he's kind of gone into a slump since then. But here come the African couple of nations. He turns it around, plays tremendously. So he seems to be rounding back in the form, Nick, at just the right time. One of the most popular players in the world. I think one of the most famous players in the world and one of the most successful footballers from the continent of Africa ever. And as you said, made a name for himself at the 22 World Cup for the more casual fans. Egypt opens up against Belgium in Seattle for their first game. Number 23, Raphinha, Nick. 29 year old Brazilian midfielder, the very rare late bloomer for Brazil. He gets overshadowed, overshadowed, pardon me, with his club team because of Yamal. He gets overshadowed for Brazil sometimes because of Vinny Jr. But he's fresh off a top five balloon door finish. If people don't know the balloon door, it's basically the worldwide MVP of soccer. And first prediction. He is my pick for the Golden Ball, really, which is player of the tournament, not Golden Boot, which is his goal scorer. Golden Ball player of the tournament, as I believe Brazil will return to its birth right, winning the World Cup for the first time since 2002. What a take. You guys, that's a prediction. All right. Yeah. Your sprinkling takes right away. Number 22, headed back to the United States, Flo Balagan, born in Brooklyn. First things first, Mainstay, you remember when he went on that scoring tear in the Champions League, five goals in 10 games. Copa, he had two goals in three games. Look, we're going to have a lot of eyes on Polisic as our goal scorer. Balagan can put the ball in the back of the net as well. I'm expecting a quality tournament from Flo Balagan. He's going to have to. We're going to. It can't just be Polisic scoring. And so he's going to, if the U.S. is going, even with the relatively fortuitous group stage draw, if they're going to have success, he's going to have to. I wonder how much I think we're going to be a defensive minded squad, though. Chris Richards coming up later. Our goal tending is always good. Still needs score goals. Yeah. I don't know if we're lighting up the scoreboard, but we'll find out. Number 21, Bruno Fernandez from Portugal, bro. All right. This guy lives under the microscope. He's the captain of Manchester United, and he's one of the great leaders in the sport. He's really passionate and it comes out and everybody will love him because of that. But can he get Portugal a World Cup win? That's what this is all about. He's creative. His passing range is limitless. He covers all types of ground on the field. It's almost like having two guys in one body. So he's fun to watch. And like we say, can he lead Portugal to a win? And lead is the right word. He's their best player. Cristiano Ronaldo is obviously the most famous. He's their best player. Number 20, Morocco, Hakini, 27 year old defender for PSG. Fresh off, carrying Morocco to the semis of the 2022 World Cup. He is the reigning African player of the year. His defense was the story of their run in 2022. In the five games before the semifinal loss, they allowed one total goal. However, you're seeing in these highlights, despite being a defender, he is a legitimate goal scoring threat. Now, tough draw. They are in the same group as my pick to win it all. Brazil, but Hakini, one of these stories of the last World Cup, trying to once again put Morocco on his back. Number 19, Pedri, 23, another Barcelona player on the list. Is he the best player in the world? Some people say yes. Reminds me a little bit of Kyrie. The way he controls the ball, handle, touch, classic Spanish possession football. Spain, of course, always a powerhouse. Hasn't made it past the round of 16 in the last three World Cups. Also has Valverde and Uruguay in their group. So a bit of El Clasico mixed in, Real in Barcelona. Number 19, Pedri, moving on. Number 18, Douay from France. You I love this guy. All right, he's making his World Cup debut. He is one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the world and might have Nick the fastest feet in the world when he has the ball with him. So he tries these audacious moves and plays during the game. You're almost shocked that he tries them, but then he actually completes a lot of them. And look, he's got Dembele. He's got Mbappe, Olise, him combining with them. That is one of the most technically gifted groups that we're going to see of attacking players in this field. So I can't wait to see what this guy does in his first time on the big stage. Number 17, Lautaro Martinez. Nick, 28 year old forward for Inter Milan. I watched him in person in Milan, scoring a system of goal in their first game as the defending Serie A champions, opening up their title defense the next year. He's an electric player for what flatly is a historically great Argentina squad. They won the Copa in 21 and 24. In the middle of that, they won the World Cup in that 2024 Copa run. He scored five goals as Argentina went on a historic run of international dominance. Again, if they are to become just the third nation ever, along with Italy in the 30s and Brazil with Pele, to go back to back in this great tournament, Lautaro Martinez is going to have to be a huge part of it. Countdown continues with a friend of the show after break. Indeed presents. Hires you can't afford to get wrong. Like a warehouse operations manager. Where are the forklifts? I sold them. They were too expensive. I got a great deal on these scooters though. You expect us to move a two ton pallet on a scooter? It'll be fun. Just think of the core strength you'll build. This is a job for sponsored jobs. This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. So the next time you need someone to get the job done right, get matched with quality candidates with an Indeed sponsored job. Visit Indeed.com slash NextHire and sponsor your job today. Welcome back to First Things First. Countdown of the players who will define World Cup 2026. We're almost halfway through our countdown. We're back with number 16 friend of the show, Chris Richard, center back anchor of our defense. We had him on the show. He talks a little bit of trash, had some choice words for Paraguay when we got into it in a friendly. Ready for the group stage. Grew up in Alabama, ended our interview with Roll Tide. Remember he played a little bit of football as well. 2025 player of the year. I think his star is going to shine brightly. Well, especially because you think the U.S. path is a lot of, you know, one nothing or two one victories. Going to need Chris and whomever the goalkeeper ends up being for the entirety of the tournament to be great. Headed to number 15, Mané from Senegal, bro. Yeah, remember 24 years ago, Senegal made a historic run to the quarterfinal round. And a lot of people feel like they have the talent to do it again this year. And he's going to have to be huge. Now he's 34 years old. He's kind of passed his prime, but he's one of the best African players of all time. And just in 2025, he was the Africa Cup of Nations best player in the tournament. So he still has a lot left. And, you know, we'll see if he can kind of turn back the clock and leave Senegal on another great run. Two tough matchups to start France, then Norway. Yeah. They got a tough one. Next up, number 14, Jude Bellingham, Nick. 22 year old for Real Madrid, his club team. Last World Cup as a teenager started every World Cup match for England. But now he's a team leader. Some believe the best player on the team. He scored one of the best goals of the decade, a bicycle kick in stoppage time in the 2024 Euros against Slovakia. But England, the Euros, the last two runner ups, heartbroken. The story of their World Cup has always been heartbreak. If they are going to finally break through this young man who finished third two years ago in the Ballon d'Or, he's going to have to be brilliant. You believe in England. I like Jude Bellingham. I think he's unbelievable for Real Madrid. I don't necessarily see this team being able to change England's World Cups history of the last 60 years. You know what, Bru and I believe in? What? Due dates. Oh yeah, you guys do believe in due dates. That is true. England is due. Yeah, that is true. They are due. Number 13, Jamal Mousiala. Torn loyalties here for me because Germany is in group E with Curacao, my squad. Oh yeah. Had some setbacks with his ankle. Seems to be OK. Playing for Bayern. Electric player. Great ball control. Germany looking for their fifth World Cup. They open up with Curacao in Houston, June 14th. I like Curacao, but Germany is also one of my squads. Well, I would say Germany is a touch stronger of a team than Curacao. Slightly. I would say I'm rooting for the underdog. Yeah, rooting for the underdog is one thing. Germany versus Curacao is something entirely different. One one. OK, I'm glad Curacao's in the field. Yeah, number 12, one of my favorite players in the whole tournament, Son. No, you hit it on the head. Wilds, I mean, he's one of the most beloved players in the world because he grew the game in Asia in a way that, you know, goals and assists and all that just can't measure. He's one of the greatest Asian players ever, if not the greatest. Ten time best footballer in Asia award winner. All right, ten times. All right, so that's pretty good. Now he's lost some of his top end speed, but still can be dynamic on the counter attack, which has always been one of his signature traits. So look, he also played four and a half years from a retail pochettino, the US team USA coach. They won a championship back in 2019 together. So that's a little storyline for you to look at as well. There's an underdog KW that might actually make some noise. Yeah. Is South Korea. Yeah, like they're a career republic. Pardon me. They they got a shot. They open up against Mexico in Guadalajara. Number 11, Virgil van Dijk. Quite simply, I think, are certainly arguably, maybe in arguably the greatest center back in the world of this century. He's 34 years old. He plays for Liverpool. Also, the last World Cup for his country, the Netherlands, ended another heartbreak. They played Argentina, obviously the eventual champs. They're down too late. They get it even. They get to penalties. They lose in penalties, including a missed penalty by Virgil van Dijk. His country, Netherlands, is one of six countries to ever play in three or more World Cup finals. They are the only one of those six to never win a World Cup. If they're finally going to do it, he'll be the player of the tournament. Our countdown continues. No, Polisic yet. Will he be ahead of Messi? It's his home country. Friday, Hershey, Pennsylvania. We'll find out next. Welcome back to First Things First. We are counting down the 26 players who will define World Cup 2026. Our countdown is now in the top 10 with number 10. Nick, you love all Lucas. Lucas, Modric. Yes, yes, especially Lucas with this type of name. But also, you know what I also like? Ageless athletes. Yes, that's true. I like all of his players in the league. He's the oldest player on our list by a mile. He's 40 years old. And because of his playing style, which relies so little on athleticism, it feels like he could play forever. He also has been the reason that Croatia has been one of the biggest stories of each of the last two World Cups. There are only two teams to make back-to-back World Cup semifinals. It needs the last two. France, a perennial favorite, and Croatia, led by Luca Modric. Obviously, they, you know, eight years ago, they make it to the finals. They lose to France. Last World Cup, they make it to the semis. They lose to eventual champion Argentina. He's teammates with Christian Polisic on the club side. And here's my favorite stat of our entire list. From 2008 to 2021, the 14 Ballon d'Or trophies that were given out, though one didn't go to Messi or Ronaldo. 2018, it went to this man, Luca Modric. He's an all-time legend. See if he can get Croatia on its third consecutive deep run in this term. Will he go loopy? Oh, great question. Number nine, headed to France, Dembele. Hey, this guy could go nuclear. Now, look, last time we saw him in the World Cup, tough outing for him. He had the penalty against Argentina led to their, the foul, led to their penalty kick, open the scoring for them. Then got substituted for in the first half. That game went down as one of the best ever. But since then, he has been on it. Terry, you mentioned Ballon d'Or. He's the reigning champion or reigning title holder of the Ballon d'Or award. And I look, my pick is France, Nick. I, you got, you got Brazil, you got England, it sounds like. I've got France. He has to be a key to it. He's an amazing player. And will he continue his rise? Cause he's on a historic run. And if he caps it off with the World Cup, when this surge will go down as one of the best we've seen. What a run with PSG to number eight, Harry Kane, get in England's all-time leading goal scorer, eight in the World Cup. Mr. Penalty in 2022, wasn't great. England goes home. He's 32, had a renaissance at Bayern. This would obviously be the crowning achievement of his career. I loved him at Tottenham. He was playing with son. So I'm rooting for Harry Kane. I also have Spain. I have a lot of the European powerhouses. Yeah, Spain, England, Germany. You got three teams. Yeah, it's a real squad. Look, I just think one of the best stories. I know people like to root against England. It would be great for Harry Kane to win one. Well, yeah, I mean, it'd be a nice game. But I think people, you know, nice story. I think that, you know, there's a long history between the US and England. We got a reason to root against them. I mean, we had to break off. 250 years, not number seven Vinnie, Jr. Listen, he's the face of Brazilian soccer, the 25 year old forward for Ray Alma Dreda. In my lifetime, it has gone from Ronaldo to Ronaldinho to Neymar to this young man as the face of, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful style of soccer for the greatest soccer country in world history, Brazil. With that said, they've only made it past the quarters once since their last win in 2002. I believe he should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2024. You see, he was the best FIFA men's player award winner, but he was a runner up in the Ballon d'Or and they are really going to need his scoring because as, as loaded as Brazil is, Rodrigo, his, you know, mate, his fellow forward is out with a torn ACL. So they're going to need, you know, my guy that we discussed earlier, who was my pick to win MVP of the tournament, essentially the golden, the golden ball, Raphinha to be great. He's going to have to be great if Brazil is finally going to get back where they belong. Brew Brazilian group C, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. Number six, the pride of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Christian, Pulisic. Well, look, he may be the greatest American soccer player of all time. Certainly. I mean, most people aren't thinking we have a chance to win it. Obviously, if he could lead us to that, he probably definitely goes down with that title, I would say, right. But look, he's already got 30 career goals for USA. That's in the top five for our nation already. He's only 27 years old. And the good thing is he's been productive in big games on the big stage. 2022 World Cup 2024, Copa America. He's got two goals, three assists. So I think this guy, you know, is going to play well. It's just a matter of how well can he lead us to a surprisingly, surprisingly high finish. Yeah, it's got to be a superstar. He's got to be great. He's got to be great. He's got to go on deeper. It needs three goals to pass Eric Wynald for fourth most in US history. Number five, Holland from Norway, Nick. I believe the single most intimidating force in professional soccer. I think he wanted his haircut at one point. I did. Yeah, that is correct. I mean, I also wouldn't mind being six, five, like him. Listen, Norway might not make it out of the group stage. They're in the same group as France and Senegal. Just making it to the knockout round is an accomplishment for this country, which only four times. Brew has even qualified for the World Cup, only twice made it to the knockout round. What you know is if Norway is playing, he's scoring in their eight World Cup qualifiers this year, Brew. He scored 16 goals. He averages more than a goal a game for his international career. But again, this is this is not a country with a rich soccer history. If they go on a deep run, he will be in the running for the Golden Boot, which is most goals scored in the tournament. Even if they only make it to the quarterfinals, it might take 10 goals for him. They'll be in Foxborough June 16th. They also have a match up against our next guy June 26th and Boppe in France, Brew. Yeah, I told you guys I picked France to win it all. He is the main reason why now, Nick, if they do win this, is he already the best ever? I mean, that's a question mark for him. I think he's playing that well. He's become a legend. He's only 27. He's already become a legend. And can he become the second player ever to appear in three straight World Cup finals? That would be it. And that's what I'm talking about. Maybe the best we've ever seen. And so killing them Boppe, man, it gets no better than him. That was your pick last World Cup, I believe. France. Yes. Yeah. And they obviously, they almost defended their title. They lost in an epic final to Argentina. He certainly is one of the best World Cup resumes ever already. It's funny. And Boppe is like, yeah, he's best player in the world. Then all of a sudden, number three, Lameen Yamal. He's 18. He debuted at 15. If anyone's star is going to go to the stratosphere, I think it's Yamal. I think he's an electric player. He's got, you know, he's dynamic the way he crosses through. He has one sort of signature move that everyone knows is coming. Can't stop it was runner up to Dembele for the Ballon d'Or. But to see a teenager assert himself as the best player in the world to just be fascinated if Andy pulled off a spank. And they're the favorite. I mean, it's why it's no shock. KW's pick is the literal favorite. He's the best. There's no with them. And he might be. I got a new one. We did that job. We did that. We got a new. It's a good pick. Number two, going old school, 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal. Yeah. Here's the question. Nick, can he go down as the best ever without winning the World Cup? That's what we want to know. All right. And he's the all time leading gold score in international soccer. Really? Well, I mean, it's not his. I mean, Portugal's not his. Right. I'm just saying, I just say it. Well, we're going to talk about it. Number one is going to have to be a tough guy to beat, but go ahead, Bruce. Sorry. Yeah. And that's the question with him is, can he do that? And so I think he probably not, but Kenny Lee, Portugal on a great run. We get to the final and win it. He locks it up if that happens. Well, yes, in theory, however, the guy who's at number one has already done that. And we thought he might be done in the World Cup eight years ago. Instead, he won it last year and he's number one on our list. Kato number one, Messi and Argentinians is sixth World Cup, sixth World Cup. That will be the most ever tied with Cristiano Ronaldo. He already has the World Cup record for games and minutes. He's already the only person ever scored goals in the World Cup as a teenager in his twenties and in his thirties. He already has multiple Golden Ball awards for most goals in the World Cup. And in the last World Cup, he scored in every single round. Argentina, as I mentioned earlier, is trying to become just the second country ever joining Italy in the thirties and Brazil with Pele to win consecutive World Cups. They already have kind of wrestled the number one soccer country in South America away from Brazil. This would cement it. Argentina winning this would put Messi in Gretzky territory as far as goat conversation un-catchable. I don't know if they can do it, but nobody thought he'd be playing in this World Cup and he's going to. And he'll be in Kansas City. In Kansas City. A World Cup on Fox and FS1 starts June 11th, electric all summer. Stay tuned.
