Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ returns this week and, for the first time, every nation will be taking part as some groups begin and others pick up from where they left off.
So far, 30 teams have started their journey to the global finals, playing between two and four matches each. Here, FIFA takes a look at six players who have impressed during the early part of their nation’s respective qualifying campaigns.
Memphis Depay
Netherlands | Forward
Games: 2
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
The Dutch may have only played two qualifiers so far thanks to their involvement in the UEFA Nations League finals, but Depay has already left his mark on proceedings.
He joined Harry Kane atop the scoring charts in continental qualifying for Qatar 2022 and opened his account this time around when he capitalised on a mix-up in the Finland defence to prod home. A brace followed in the first 16 minutes of their encounter with Malta to set the Oranje on their way to an 8-0 rout. Those goals also took the 31-year-old to a half-century for his nation, moving level with Robin Van Persie as their all-time top goalscorer.
Reece James
England | Defender
Games: 3
Goals: 1
Goals conceded: 0
An injury-plagued two years saw James miss 26 consecutive international matches. Now getting back towards his best, and with old Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel at the helm of the Three Lions, he’s returned to the fold and is starring again.
The 25-year-old came on as a late substitute in the victory over Albania before starting England’s next qualifier with Latvia. After a strong opening to his first England start since September 2022, he curled home his first international goal with a jaw-dropping free-kick to kickstart a 3-0 win. Tuchel’s trust in James was evidenced next time out as he started at left-back and again played the full 90 as they made it three wins from three with as many clean sheets against Andorra.
Andrej Kramaric
Croatia | Striker
Games: 4
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
He may be 34, but this prolific plunderer of goals is showing no signs of slowing as he closes in on Davor Suker’s national-team scoring record.
Kramaric rose from the bench at half-time of their opening match with Gibraltar and netted the final two goals in a 7-0 thumping. Czechia, many thought, would be a sterner test for the Croatians but Kramaric opened and closed the scoring in an eye-catching 5-1 rout, while also claiming an assist.
Djordje Petrovic
Serbia | Goalkeeper
Games: 2
Goals conceded: 0
Saves: 4
Serbia have a number of goalkeepers vying for the number one spot, and Bournemouth’s Petrovic has done his chances of nailing it down the world of good in the early qualifiers.
The 25-year-old was the star of the show in Serbia’s opener with Albania. He made a number of fine saves, including a terrific dive low to his right to repel a Rey Manaj penalty in the first half. While he had little to do in their 3-0 win over Andorra, his composure and ability on the ball helped keep the Eagles ticking over.
Patrik Schick
Czechia | Striker
Games: 4
Goals: 4
Schick is already a national-team icon after netting a joint tournament-high five goals – alongside Cristiano Ronaldo – at UEFA EURO 2020, while his heroic half-way line effort versus Scotland won the Goal of the Tournament. Now, he’s looking to fire his nation to a first global finals in 20 years.
A match-winning brace of headers sunk the Faroe Islands in their opener. He then steered in Czechia’s second of four unanswered goals against Gibraltar, and glanced home another header to seal victory over Montenegro. While the Nároďák lost to Croatia last time out, three straight wins to start a campaign represented their greatest start to a qualifying group since Mexico 1970, with Schick at the heart of it.
Sorba Thomas
Wales | Winger
Games: 4
Goals: 1
Assists: 4
Wales have been one of the teams to watch so far in Europe and in Thomas they have a bona fide creator king, both from open play and dead-ball situations.
He claimed two assists in their curtain-raiser against Kazakhstan and added a third – and the second from the corner quadrant – when Joe Rodon nodded in his inviting delivery in victory over Lichtenstein. His first international goal against Belgium last time out saw Wales fight from 3-0 down to 3-2, before he set up Brennan Johnson to equalise. While they would ultimately lose 4-3, if Thomas can keep up this form then the Welsh have every chance of reaching back-to-back global finals for the first time.
