10 players we can’t wait to see at their first World Cup this year

It’s a World Cup year and, even if the 2022 Finals are in the winter in Qatar, you can’t help but get a little bit excited already.

One of the best bits of a World Cup is when players you’d previously never heard of, both young and old, burst onto the scene.

It usually causes quite a stir in the transfer market, as clubs race to get their hands on the new household names. Think James Rodriguez in 2014, who ended up leaving Monaco for Real Madrid after his brilliant performances in Brazil.

So here are ten players we’re excited to see at the World Cup later this year. Make sure to keep an eye out for them.

Foden was always going to be on here.

To call him a wonderkid feels disingenuous considering he’s already a regular in perhaps the best footballing side in the world and plays with a confidence and maturity that is vastly beyond his age.

We’re not sure he’s a guaranteed starter in Gareth Southgate’s England XI but, injury permitting, he’ll surely play a big part out in Qatar.

He’s simply a wonder. We can’t wait to see him on the biggest stage of all.

Great finish, @PhilFoden! pic.twitter.com/bLbeBNe0O9

— England (@England) July 1, 2021

Ghana are heading for the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals and were denied a historic victory by the hand of Luis Suarez.

This time they’ll have 21-year-old Kudus with them, who is Ghana’s young and exciting attacking midfielder.

He’s incredibly creative, technical and direct. On the ball, he is mesmerising at times.

The Ajax player has had to contend with injury this season but is working his way back to full fitness and will hope the worst is behind him so he can focus on the World Cup. If he performs well, a big club might come knocking in