FIFA has announced the World Cup Team of the Tournament, featuring only one player from England.
FIFA has announced its Team of the Tournament for the 2026 World Cup, and only one England player made the list.
After Sunday’s (July 19) final between Spain, the champions, and Argentina, several individual awards were given out. Lionel Messi finished second in the Golden Boot race with eight goals, behind Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10. Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland both scored seven goals, while Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele ended with six each.
Spain’s captain Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, with Messi and Mbappe receiving the Silver and Bronze Balls. Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon earned the Golden Glove for conceding just one goal in eight matches. His teammate Pau Cubarsi took home the FIFA Young Player Award.
Even though the Netherlands were knocked out in the round of 32, they won the FIFA Fair Play Award for picking up only three yellow cards.
Now, the Team of the Tournament has been revealed, and surprisingly, Bellingham is England’s only player included, despite the Three Lions finishing third. Three players from Spain — Rodri, Marc Cucurella, and Pedro Porro — made the team, along with France’s Dayot Upamecano, Michael Olise, and Mbappe. Argentina’s Messi and Lisandro Martinez, plus Norway’s Haaland, also got spots.
Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Unai Simon, and Mike Maignan might feel unlucky, as Cape Verde’s Vozinha was chosen instead.
Fans quickly shared their opinions on social media. One said, “How is Yamal not in this? He won the whole thing and still can’t make the Team, but Messi does after Argentina lost the final. I’d pick him over Olise at least.” Another wrote, “A keeper who only let in ONE goal deserves to be in the XI. And swapping Upamecano for Cubarsi is a no-brainer. How do you leave out the Best Young Player?”
Others commented, “Unai Simón won Best Goalkeeper but wasn’t included in the Team — how is that possible?” and “It’s a solid team, but I’d swap Upamecano for Saliba, who looked more solid. Otherwise, most picks make sense.” Another fan said, “Who invited Messi? Kane should be there instead. Pau Cubarsi wasn’t better than Martinez. Spain was very organized, but Lisandro Martinez was the best defender, and Kane outperformed Messi at this World Cup.”
The ‘Dream XI’ was chosen through fan voting and includes:
**Goalkeeper**
Vozinha (Cape Verde)
**Defenders**
Pedro Porro (Spain), Lisandro Martinez (Argentina), Dayot Upamecano (France), Marc Cucurella (Spain)
**Midfielders**
Rodri (Spain), Michael Olise (France), Jude Bellingham (England)
**Forwards**
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Erling Haaland (Norway), Kylian Mbappe (France)