Concacaf Rising Stars at FIFA World Cup 2026

A look at the top rising stars from the six Concacaf sides.

MIAMI – As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, we spotlight six rising stars from Concacaf who could make their mark on football’s biggest stage.

Luc de Fougerolles (Canada)

After being named Canada Soccer Young Player of the Year in 2025, Luc de Fougerolles will look to continue his rise on the world stage.

The 20-year-old defender established himself as a regular for Dender EH during the 2025/26 Belgian Pro League season, making 28 appearances across all competitions.

At the international level, de Fougerolles has steadily become an important part of Canada's player pool. He made nine appearances for the national team over the past year, including three at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, bringing his career total to 13 caps.

Livano Comenencia (Curaçao)

Livano Comenencia was one of the key figures behind Curaçao’s historic first qualification for a FIFA World Cup and now has the opportunity to showcase his talent on the global stage.

The versatile 22-year-old defender featured in eight World Cup Qualifying matches, contributing a goal and an assist during Curaçao’s memorable campaign. He also appeared in all three group-stage matches at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

At club level, Comenencia completed a solid 2025/26 season with FC Zürich, recording 24 appearances and one assist in the Swiss Super League.

Carl Sainté (Haiti)

Carl Sainté enters the World Cup as one of Haiti’s most influential young midfielders.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a strong 2025 season with Phoenix Rising in the USL Championship, making 23 league appearances, scoring once, and posting an impressive 92 percent pass completion rate. His performances earned him a move to El Paso Locomotive FC, where he has continued to build experience in 2026.

For Haiti, Sainté has become a reliable presence in midfield, earning 26 caps and playing a role in Les Grenadiers’ historic qualification for their first FIFA World Cup in 52 years.

Gilberto Mora (Mexico)

After a historic breakthrough year, Gilberto Mora heads to the FIFA World Cup as the tournament’s youngest player.

The 17-year-old midfielder enjoyed a landmark 2025 campaign with Mexico, making his senior national team debut before playing a key role in the nation’s record 10th Concacaf Gold Cup title. Mora became the youngest player ever to debut for Mexico at age 16, later recording an assist against Honduras in the Semifinals to become the youngest player to register an assist in Gold Cup history at 16 years, 8 months, and 18 days. He also became the youngest player to appear in every stage of the tournament's knockout rounds.

Mora carried that momentum into the FIFA U-20 World Cup, helping Mexico reach the quarterfinals.

At club level, the Club Tijuana product has quickly emerged as one of Liga MX’s brightest young talents. Across all competitions over the past year, Mora made 23 appearances and contributed eight goals for Xolos.

Edgardo Fariña (Panama)

Edgardo Fariña heads into the World Cup as one of Panama’s most promising young defenders.

The 24-year-old center back recently completed his second season in European football, making 14 appearances for FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the Russian Premier League during the 2025/26 campaign.

Fariña has also become an increasingly important piece of Panama’s national team setup. In 2025, he played every minute of Panama’s run to the Final of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League, while also featuring at the Concacaf Gold Cup and in World Cup Qualifying. His combination of size, composure, and international experience makes him a player to watch as Los Canaleros return to the world stage.

Ricardo Pepi (United States)

Ricardo Pepi arrives at his first FIFA World Cup on the heels of the best club season of his career.

The 23-year-old striker played a major role in PSV Eindhoven’s third consecutive Eredivisie title, scoring 16 league goals and 19 across all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign.

Already a proven performer on the international stage, Pepi delivered key moments during qualifying for Qatar 2022 and helped the United States capture back-to-back Concacaf Nations League titles in 2023 and 2024. With 13 goals in 37 appearances for the senior national team, he enters the tournament poised to lead the American attack.