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While the prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class might not have been highly-touted, the first round of this year’s draft certainly brought the fireworks. Of course, the Las Vegas Raiders took Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, but there were plenty of surprises after that. The Arizona Cardinals took running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. Not many had the Tennessee Titans drafting wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4. No pick caused a greater shock, though, than the Los Angeles Rams’ decision to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Why did Los Angeles add a backup quarterback with such a premium selection? Here are our five takeaways from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft: 1. Cowboys are an early draft winner with Caleb Downs Ben Arthur: The Cowboys may have gotten the best player in this year’s draft. And they didn’t have to overspend to get him. There was plenty of speculation pre-draft that Dallas, armed with two first-round picks (Nos. 12, 20), could be aggressive to move up. Instead, it let the board come to them, and traded up just one spot with the Dolphins at a relatively cheap price — pick 12 and two fifth-rounders (Nos. 177, 180) — to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who was widely touted as a generational prospect. Jerry Jones and Co. couldn’t have asked for a better scenario. Downs should immediately be one of the best players on a Cowboys’ defense that ranked last in points allowed in 2025. Beyond his incredible instincts and skills, his football IQ can’t be ignored. Thirty-four-year-old Christian Parker will be a first-time defensive coordinator in Dallas. Downs was running Nick Saban’s defense at Alabama as a true freshman, so there’s reason to believe he won’t have the typical rookie hiccups. Parker’s extensive background as a DBs coach with the Broncos (2021-23) and Eagles (2024-25) should serve him in deploying Downs, who’s a safety by position but has the versatility to play all over the secondary. And Downs wasn’t the only win for the Cowboys Thursday night. They traded back with the Eagles three spots to No. 23, which was used to select UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, and picked up two fourth-round picks in the process. So essentially, Dallas gave up two Day 3 picks in the Downs trade but was later able to replace them, one round up. To sum up, the Cowboys got two players who should immediately impact their defense. They moved up and down the draft order with prudence. Plus, star wide receiver George Pickens is signing his franchise tender. All in all, Friday night should be viewed as a success at The Star. 2. Even the Buccaneers were surprised to get Rueben Bain Jr., and now their pass rush is much better Greg Auman It’s good fortune when the best player available can line up with a team’s most glaring positional need, and that was a pleasant surprise for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who did not expect Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to still be there when they picked at No. 15. General manager Jason Licht said there were “very few scenarios” where they expected Bain to be there — he was widely projected as a top-10 pick, and only one of the last 80 mock drafts posted at NFLmockdraftdatabase.com had him around when the Bucs were picking. Part of that drop could be the news last week that Bain was driving in a 2024 car accident that left one passenger dead. He was cited with careless driving, and Licht said the team had known about the incident long before it became public, saying “he’s a good person” and someone they had no misgivings about selecting. The Bucs sorely need pass-rush help, and they’ll have three new impact players there, first in Bain, but also in free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 12.5 sacks off the bench for the Lions last year, as well as second-year pro David Walker, who missed his rookie season with injury. Tampa Bay’s defense – and specifically its pass rush – disappeared down the stretch last year when the Bucs lost seven of eight and missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. The team’s success – and the future of head coach Todd Bowles – may hinge on the defense playing at a higher and more consistent level. Licht said he hasn’t seen many draft rooms more excited than the Bucs were when Bain fell to them, and he’ll be a key part of their comeback efforts this coming season. 3. Giant surprise helps John Harbaugh build a dangerous pass rush in New York Ralph Vacchiano: The best New York Giants teams in the Super Bowl era have had pass rushes that came at opposing quarterbacks in waves. That’s what they think they’ve built again, after Arvell Reese fell into their laps on Thursday night. They were stunned, in fact, when that happened because they had Reese, the Ohio State edge rusher, rated as the No. 1 non-quarterback on their entire board. So when he was still available at five, the franchise that lives by the mantra “You can never have enough pass rushers” jumped at the chance to add another. So now the Giants have a pass rush that includes Reese, All-Pro Brian Burns (16.5 sacks last season), Kayvon Thibodeaux (11 sacks in 2023 before injuries started to hurt him), and Abdul Carter, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft last year. That rotation may not evoke memories of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka just yet. But they should be a lock to improve on their 38 team sacks last year. And that could be enough to make one of the NFL’s worst defenses into a competitive unit, at least. No quarterback will be comfortable playing against this team. That pick, plus the addition of Miami (Fla.) offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick (which they got from Cincinnati for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence), played right into new coach John Harbaugh’s plan. He promised his team would be strong in the trenches. And in the first round, they got much stronger on both sides of the ball. 4. Makai Lemon will be Eagles OC Sean Mannion’s building block Henry McKenna: It has been clear for weeks that the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles have essentially agreed to terms on an A.J. Brown trade, which will go through on June 1. Philly’s first-round selection only affirms what we already knew. Makai Lemon, whom the Eagles traded up to get at No. 20 (stealing him away from the Steelers), will join DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks, who the Eagles acquired from the Packers. It’s clear that general manager Howie Roseman is building a passing offense around what new OC Sean Mannion will need. And if Mannion has what he needs, it’ll set up Jalen Hurts for success. This new vision started with the Wicks acquisition and it’ll extend to Lemon. By adding Lemon, the Eagles have admittedly brought in a deep pool of receivers with similar profiles. I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem. The Seahawks — who run a similar system to what the Eagles will likely run — powered their offense around Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a pair of slot receivers (who can, realistically, line up all over the formation). There will be a lot of pressure on Lemon. Just ask Treylon Burks — who joined the Titans as a first-rounder after Tennessee traded away A.J. Brown. But Roseman is as shrewd as they come. Lemon is a really good yards-after-catch receiver. He’s fast. He was a high-production player at USC. And in this offense, I could see him being the most productive rookie wideout in 2026. 5. Rams pick Matthew Stafford’s successor when they needed to add another playmaker Eric D. Williams: For the second time since Sean McVay took over as the team’s head coach in 2017, the Rams drafted a quarterback, picking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as the heir apparent for starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams needed a backup, with Jimmy Garoppolo mulling retirement and 2023 fourth-round selection Stetson Bennett the only other quarterback on the roster. At No. 13, the Rams had the team’s highest draft selection in the first round since selecting Jared Goff at No. 1 in the 2016 draft. The last team to take a quarterback in the first round with the reigning league MVP on the roster was the Green Bay Packers in 1967, who took Don Horne at No. 25 overall to back up 33-year-old Bart Starr. At 6-1 and 212 pounds, Simpson is an accurate thrower with good movement skills who plays with anticipation. He should be a good fit in McVay’s offense and now has time to grow and develop behind the 38-year-old Stafford. However, the Rams finished a game away from the Super Bowl, losing a closely contested NFC Championship game in Seattle. Yes, the Rams made moves in free agency to upgrade the defense by trading for versatile slot defender Trent McDuffie and signing cornerback Jaylen Watson, but the addition of Simpson doesn’t necessarily upgrade an offense in need of another playmaker, particularly with Puka Nacua dealing with off-the-field issues this offseason. “I hate sitting here and going: we are a player away in the draft from a Super Bowl,” Rams general manager Les Snead said at his post-Round 1 press conference. “At the end of the day, what we want to accomplish in the draft and any acquisitions that we have is to try to engineer as competent a team as possible. And then let’s go to work. “Let’s get through May. Let’s get through June. Let’s come back in August. Let’s then go to Australia and play Game 1. And try to be the best team, try to evolve and be playing our best football at the end.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will ultimately come to life because of its constellation of stars, and this summer’s tournament will be full of them. From living legends like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to goal machines Kylian Mbappé of France and Erling Haaland of Norway — these are the names who’ll take center stage starting in June. Here’s one player from each of the 48 World Cup squads worth keeping a close eye on. JUMP TO: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP A Raúl Jiménez | Forward | Mexico Age: 34National team appearances: 123Club: Fulham (England) Jiménez is part of Mexico’s veteran core. He scored nine of El Tri’s 22 goals in 2025, including a brace in both the Nations League semifinal and final. Jimenez also netted the winning goal in the Gold Cup semifinal and added another in the win over the U.S. in the tournament final. Jimenez, who has already played in three World Cups, has also scored nine goals for Fulham across all competitions this season and is in ideal form entering an important summer with a World Cup on home soil. Notable stat: Jiménez has scored 44 goals for Mexico, which is three shy of moving into second all time and nine shy of breaking the record held by Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Jimenez’s European club career includes stops at Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Wolverhampton and Fulham. Lyle Foster | Forward | South Africa Age: 25National team appearances: 30Club: Burnley (England) Foster brings a strong attacking presence to the Bafana Bafana. He’s fast and can be dangerous in the buildup, but his teammates need to find ways to get him the ball. The 25-year-old striker plays for Burnley in the Premier League, where he has scored three goals this season. Foster netted two goals and had two assists in the Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa made it to the round of 16. Notable stat: Foster has made nearly 100 appearances for Burnley since joining the club in 2022 and has scored 10 goals for South Africa in 30 appearances. Son Heung-min | Forward | South Korea Age: 33National team appearances: 142Club: LAFC (United States) Known as “Sonny,” South Korea’s undisputed star and captain will be a fan favorite. Son is South Korea’s most-capped player and is close to becoming the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer — perhaps he’ll break that record over the summer. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he led the Taegeuk Warriors to a dramatic group-stage win over Portugal, but they fell in the Round of 16 when they lost to Brazil. The winger is in good form for LAFC and leads MLS this season in assists. Notable stat: Before his move to LAFC in 2024, Son spent 10 seasons at Tottenham, where he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. Tomáš Souček | Midfielder | Czechia Age: 32National team appearances: 89Club: West Ham United (England) Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will likely score goals this summer, but Souček will provide reliability in the midfield for Czechia. Souček has been the team’s longtime captain, and he led the squad to qualify for the World Cup by beating both Ireland and Denmark on penalties during the UEFA playoffs in March. Souček was also nominated as the Czech Footballer of the Year in 2025. Notable stat: Souček has made more than 270 appearances for West Ham United since 2019. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP B Alphonso Davies | Forward | Canada Age: 25National team appearances: 58Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) Davies will wear the armband for the co-hosts this summer and is looking to bounce back after what’s been an injury-marred season for his club. The Bayern Munich standout, UEFA Champions League winner and former FIFA Best XI selection scored the first World Cup goal in Canada’s history in 2022 at Qatar. His main attribute is his versatility. He often plays left back for Bayern but takes a more attacking position for Canada. In Bayern’s Bundesliga-clinching win on April 19, he scored his first goal of the season. Notable stat: Davies has made more than 240 appearances for Bayern Munich since joining the team in 2018. Esmir Bajraktarević | Forward | Bosnia and Herzegovina Age: 21National team appearances: 14Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) It’s easy to pick 40-year-old talisman striker Edin Džeko, but let’s go with surprise star Bajraktarević. The 21-year-old MLS academy product — he was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, after his parents fled the war-torn Baltic state in the 1990s — converted the decisive penalty attempt against Italy in March’s World Cup playoffs. Cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 2024 before switching international allegiances, the player who has been affectionately nicknamed the “Milwaukee Messi” now returns to his native country for this summer’s World Cup. Notable stat: Bajraktarević has made nearly 40 appearances for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven since joining that team in 2025 from MLS club New England Revolution. Almoez Ali | Forward | Qatar Age: 29National team appearances: 125Club: Al-Duhail (Qatar) Though he’s not yet even 30, Ali has already made well more than 100 appearances for Qatar and is the Maroons’ all-time top scorer with 60 international goals. The Sudan-born striker was also part of the 2022 World Cup squad for Qatar, which hosted the tournament. Notable stat: Ali led Qatar to two AFC Cup titles and was the top scorer in the 2019 edition. Manuel Akanji | Defender | Switzerland Age: 30National team appearances: 79Club: Inter Milan (Italy) Although defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka is the captain, look for Akanji to also take on a big responsibility. The Manchester City man, who’s on loan at Inter Milan this season, has helped get the Italian club on the verge of two domestic trophies. For Switzerland, he’s been an anchor for a defense that conceded just two goals in six games in the final round of UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament. Notable stat: Since 2017, Akanji has made more than 330 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP C Raphinha | Forward | Brazil Age: 29National team appearances: 37Club: Barcelona (Spain) On a star-studded roster, who do you pick? Let’s lean on Raphinha. While Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior gets most of the plaudits, the Barcelona attacking midfielder has arguably been the better player over the last year, despite some hamstring injuries. Raphinha was the lone Brazilian to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2025, and his ability to also play on the wings will keep opponents on their toes this summer. Notable stat: Raphinha has made more than 170 appearances for Barcelona since joining the club in 2022 from Leeds United, totaling more than 130 goal contributions. Brahim Díaz | Forward | Morocco Age: 26National team appearances: 24Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Paris Saint-Germain defender Archaf Hakimi is seen as a top-10 player in the world, but Brahim Díaz could be a breakout star for Morocco at this World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder scored five goals for the Atlas Lions in the Africa Cup of Nations, and fans are hoping that was just the jumping off point. Díaz played for the Spanish youth national team before committing to Morocco and is a rising star who former manager Walid Regragui said could be “the best player in the world.” The 26-year-old was not part of Morocco’s 2022 World Cup team, which made it to the semifinal, but he could be a reason why the squad makes another deep run in 2026. Notable stat: The 26-year-old has made nearly 300 appearances in his time with Manchester City, AC Milan and Real Madrid; he appeared in 12 Champions League games this season as well. Johny Placide | Goalkeeper | Haiti Age: 38National team appearances: 79Club: Bastia (France) Placide could be very busy this summer. The 38-year-old French-born goalkeeper has been Haiti’s captain for the last 15 years and will backstop the team’s effort this summer in a group that includes five-time champion Brazil and 2022 semifinalist Morocco. Notable stat: Placide has been a part of Haiti’s two bronze-medal finishes at the Caribbean Cup, coming in 2012 and 2014. Scott McTominay | Midfielder | Scotland Age: 29National team appearances: 69Club: Napoli (Italy) McTominay has had a renaissance over the past year. The 6-foot-3 attacking midfielder led Napoli to the Italian title last season, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination along the way. It was his spectacular bicycle kick that opened the scoring in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying clincher over Denmark. A former Manchester United player, McTominay will be the focal point for the Tartan Army. Notable stat: McTominay was named the 2024-25 Serie A Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Scottish player to win the Italian award. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP D Weston McKennie | Midfielder | United States Age: 27National team appearances: 64Club: Juventus (Italy) Has McKennie now surpassed AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic — who struggled mightily in early 2026 — as the Americans’ most influential player? The all-action Juventus midfielder is having a career season (four goals during Champions League competition) in which he’s been the best player for Italy’s most successful club. It was promising that he scored for the USA in the March friendly against Belgium, despite the 5-2 loss in Atlanta. Now a veteran presence for the Stars and Stripes, McKennie can further solidify his stardom on home soil this summer. Notable stat: McKennie has made more than 220 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2020, with more than 50 goal contributions in that span. His 64 caps are third-most among active players behind Pulisic’s 84 and Tim Ream’s 80. Miguel Almirón | Midfielder | Paraguay Age: 32National team appearances: 75Club: Atlanta United (United States) Almirón is familiar to fans on three continents, having moved from Cerro Porteño in his native country to Argentine club Lanús to MLS side Atlanta United to Premier League mainstay Newcastle United before returning to Atlanta last year. With Paraguay being the USA’s opening match opponent, Almirón could also help spoil the Americans’ party during group stage action. Notable stat: Almirón made 223 appearances for Newcastle United from 2018 to 2025, scoring 30 goals and 12 assists. Jordan Bos | Defender | Australia Age: 23National team appearances: 25Club: Feyenoord (Netherlands) The 23-year-old Feyenoord left back is a quicking turning heads in European club soccer. Bos has experience scoring against the USA, and he could do so again when the Socceroos take on the co-hosting team in Seattle in group-stage play. Last October, he had the Aussies’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in an exhibition match in Denver. He scored in his next two appearances, too, including a game-winner over Cameroon in March. Notable stat: Bos made 46 appearances in two seasons for Westerlo (Belgian Pro League) before making his move to the Dutch Eredivisie. Kenan Yıldız | Forward | Türkiye Age: 20National team appearances: 28Club: Juventus (Italy) Expect a tough matchup for the USA when it takes on Yıldız and Türkiye in what could be the Group D decider this summer. Real Madrid forward Arda Güler is continuing to shine this season (despite suffering an injury on April 23), but 20-year-old Juventus playmaker Yıldız has already established himself as one of the game’s most gifted youngsters in global soccer. In 2024-25, the Juventus winger scored Serie A’s “Goal of the Season.” Notable stat: In 42 appearances for Juventus this season, Yildiz has scored 11 goals and recorded 10 assists. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP E Florian Wirtz | Midfielder | Germany Age: 22National team appearances: 39Club: Liverpool (England) Wirtz may be struggling this season with Liverpool, but he’ll give Germany a shot at making a deep run at the World Cup. The 22-year-old midfielder helped Bayer Leverkusen go undefeated en route to winning the German title two seasons ago before being named Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2025. He then moved to Liverpool later that year on a blockbuster $156 million transfer deal but continues to adjust to life in the Premier League. In March, Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. Notable stat: Before moving to Liverpool this season, Wirtz scored 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen from 2019 to 2025. Eloy Room | Goalkeeper | Curaçao Age: 37National team appearances: 70Club: Miami FC (United States) With debut team Curaçao facing some stiff competition in this group, Room figures to be plenty busy for the Blue Wave this summer. Tied for the most caps (with former Aston Villa striker Leandro Bacuna) in Curaçao’s history, Room’s journeyman career has taken him across several clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium. He did have a notable stint in MLS as he helped the Columbus Crew win the 2020 MLS Cup. Room now plays for Miami FC in the USA’s second-tier USL Championship. Notable stat: Room recorded a clean sheet for the Columbus Crew in the 3-0 victory in the 2020 MLS Cup final over the Seattle Sounders. Franck Kessié | Midfielder | Ivory Coast Age: 29National team appearances: 102Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Kessié is not just Ivory Coast’s heart-and-soul central midfielder, but he is also the Elephants’ captain. Now playing his club ball in Saudi Arabia, the 29-year-old’s resume includes stints with European juggernauts Barcelona and AC Milan. A good showing this summer at the World Cup could land him a return to a European club. Notable stat: During his time at AC Milan and Barcelona, Kessie totaled 266 appearances, scoring 40 goals and 19 assists. Moisés Caicedo | Midfielder | Ecuador Age: 24National team appearances: 60Club: Chelsea (England) Regarded as perhaps the finest defensive midfielder in the game, Caicedo will lead a stacked Ecuador side that also features 36-year-old all-time scoring leader Enner Valencia and young Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. La Tri is seen as a dark-horse side, but Caicedo helped Chelsea win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and is the linchpin in Ecuador’s lineup. Notable stat: Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton Hove & Albion to Chelsea in 2023 was the fourth-most expensive for a central midfielder in the world at $129.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP F Virgil van Dijk | Defender | Netherlands Age: 34National team appearances: 90Club: Liverpool (England) Van Dijk is the best center back in the world. The main thing about the 6-foot-5 stalwart defender is his leadership. He captains both his Liverpool club and his country, and his energy and tone trickle down to his teammates. He’s literally and figuratively the quarterback of his back line. He’s composed on the ball, rarely makes mistakes, wins one-on-one battles and is a bully in the air. He’ll turn 35 during the World Cup, but his age doesn’t matter — van Dijk is a reason why the Oranje are automatically contenders against any opponent. Notable stat: One of the most decorated Dutch players of all time, van Dijk is a former English Premier League Player of the Season and five-time Team of the Season selection. Takefusa Kubo | Forward | Japan Age: 24National team appearances: 48Club: Real Sociedad (Spain) Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is a key player for Japan, but will he be able to come back in time for the World Cup after ankle surgery in February? Regardless, the Samurai Blue will need players like Kubo to step up. The Real Sociedad winger, who was once dubbed the “Japanese Messi,” has looked good following his return from a hamstring injury in January. He’s been a key contributor for Real Sociedad, which won the Spanish Copa del Rey in April. Notable stat: Kubo played for Barcelona’s youth academy and was acquired by Real Madrid in 2019, never making an appearance for the team but totaling more than 200 appearances in La Liga play for Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Real Sociedad. Viktor Gyökeres | Forward | Sweden Age: 27National team appearances: 32Club: Arsenal (England) Sweden will have two elite strikers in Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Gyökeres, but the latter has been a bit more prolific this season. The Arsenal star scored four goals in Sweden’s two playoff games against Ukraine and Poland. Isak is working his way back from surgery on a fibula fracture last December, which means Gyökeres is the most in form at the moment to lead the Swedish attack this summer. Notable stat: Before moving to Arsenal this season, Gyökeres scored 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane | Midfielder | Tunisia Age: 26National team appearances: 54Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt) Tunisia’s bread and butter may be its defense, but Romdhane is known for his proficiency on the ball and has a nose for goal. The 26-year-old plays for Al Ahly in Egypt, and he scored a goal against Portuguese powerhouse Porto at the 2025 Club World Cup. He also scored the goal that booked Tunisia’s spot at the World Cup in a 1-0 qualifier win over Equatorial Guinea in September. The Eagles of Carthage will likely be over-matched by their group opponents, but any foe certainly has to account for Romdhane and his propensity to impact the game. Notable stat: Romdhane spent eight seasons playing at clubs in Tunisia and Hungary before moving to Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League in 2024. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP G Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium Age: 23National team appearances: 41Club: Manchester City (England) Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne? Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois? We’re going with standout winger Jérémy Doku. Belgium boasts elite players up and down its lineup, including veteran defender Thomas Meunier and captain Youri Tielemans, but the 23-year-old Manchester City dangerman — a key threat — is its undisputed game-breaker. He scored against the USA in the March friendly, and the Red Devils will go as far as he takes them. Notable stat: Since signing with Manchester City in 2023, Doku has made more than 120 appearances for the team, with 20 coming in the Champions League. Mohamed Salah | Forward | Egypt Age: 33National team appearances: 115Club: Liverpool (England) Mohamed Salah is easily the greatest player in the country’s history with 67 goals. The Pharaohs captain and Liverpool icon, who’ll leave the club this summer, could overtake current national team coach Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian record of 69 goals in what could be his final World Cup. Notable stat: Salah is a two-time African Footballer of the Year winner and a two-time English Premier League Player of the Season. He’s won nine major trophies with Liverpool — including two league titles and the Champions League. Mehdi Taremi | Forward | Iran Age: 33National team appearances: 103Club: Olimpiacos (Greece) Taremi stands out for Team Melli. The talented striker is Iran’s captain and best player, having played across several prominent European teams. A key factor for Greek power Olimpiacos, Taremi was a UEFA Champions League runner-up with Inter Milan last season. Notable stat: In 225 combined appearances with Porto and Inter Milan, Taremi scored 94 goals and added 65 assists. Chris Wood | Forward | New Zealand Age: 34National team appearances: 88Club: Nottingham Forest (England) If New Zealand score any goals this summer, it’ll likely be by Chris Wood. The 34-year-old Premier Leaguer has more goals and caps than any player in the country’s history. The 6-foot-3 Nottingham Forest striker also wears the armband for the Kiwis under English coach Darren Bazeley. Notable stat: Wood’s career includes stops all around the English Premier League, having played at Leicester City, Leeds United, Burnley and Newcastle United before making the move to Nottingham Forest in 2023. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP H Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain Age: 18National team appearances: 25Club: Barcelona (Spain) World Cup fans will be relieved that Yamal is expected to be in action this summer for Spain, despite a hamstring injury that will keep him out of Barcelona’s final stretch. This will be the 18-year-old’s first World Cup, and he will be an absolute delight for fans. He’s creative and unafraid on the ball and is a force in the attack, when healthy, be it for Spain or his club Barcelona. While this will be his debut on the global stage, Yamal has already won a Euros medal, and his unique talent already has soccer fans wondering if he’s the best player in the world already or if it’s only a matter of time. Notable stat: He is the most expensive player in the world at $235.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. At age 17, he became the first player ever to score or assist in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of a single European Championship during the 2024 edition. Dailon Livramento | Forward | Cape Verde Age: 24National team appearances: 20Club: Casa Pia (Portugal) Livramento carries the hopes and dreams of this island nation off the coast of Africa. The 24-year-old plays in Portugal and has scored the two most important goals in his nation’s history: the opener in a 3-0 win over Eswatini during World Cup qualifying and then the game-winner against Cameroon, clinching a spot for this summer’s tournament. Notable stat: Livramento spent the early part of his career playing in the Netherlands before making the move to Italy for Hellas Verona in 2024 and made 31 appearances. Salem Al-Dawsari | Forward | Saudi Arabia Age: 34National team appearances: 107Club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Al-Dawsari is one of the best players in Saudi football history and has made more than 100 appearances for his country. The 34-year-old midfielder plays for Al-Hilal and captains his national team. He scored a stunning goal in the win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With a team like Spain looming in the group stage, perhaps he’ll have more heroics up his sleeve this summer. Notable stat: Al-Dawsari is a two-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year winner (2022, 2025) who has scored more than 140 goals for Al-Hilal while leading the team to six Saudi Pro League titles. Federico Valverde | Midfielder | Uruguay Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Valverde is one of Uruguay’s more familiar and established players. He has experience and has Champions League, La Liga and FIFA Club World Cup titles to his name. Valverde has more than 70 caps for La Celeste and was on Uruguay’s rosters for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Notable stat: Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, Valverde has made more than 360 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the team in 2018. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP I Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France Age: 27National team appearances: 96Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Mbappé was the leading scorer at the last World Cup with eight goals — including a hat trick in the final — and he’s arguably still the world’s best player when at the height of his powers. Since 2022, he has made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, where he continues to shine. Already a World Cup winner from the 2018 tournament, a second one would further solidify his case of being among the best of all time. Notable stat: Mbappé is just one of two players ever to record a hat trick in a World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst. He is also five goals away from breaking the all-time record of 16 set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Idrissa Gueye | Midfielder | Senegal Age: 36National team appearances: 131Club: Everton (England) Sadio Mané was a mainstay for clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but don’t overlook Gueye, who is Senegal’s captain and most capped player. The current Everton and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder remains a key player for his country even at age 36. Notable stat: Gueye has made more than 380 combined appearances for Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain and Everton. Ali Al-Hamadi | Forward | Iraq Age: 24National team appearances: 17Club: Luton Town (England) Al-Hamadi has carved out a respectable club career in England, where he moved with his family as a child. His opening goal against Bolivia in March’s intercontinental playoff led to Iraq clinching its first World Cup appearance since 1986. Notable stat: Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances in the English Premier League for Ipswich Town in the 2024-25 season. Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club: Manchester City (England) Haaland is the sport’s most prolific scorer with an astonishing 55 goals in just 48 games for Norway. Still only 25, no player in international soccer history hit the half-century mark in fewer matches than it took the 6-foot-5 striker. He’s already won every major club trophy with Manchester City, including the 2025 Champions League, and now he’ll want to make his mark on the international level. Notable stat: Haaland holds the records for the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, in addition to being the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP J Lionel Messi | Forward | Argentina Age: 38National team appearances: 198Club: Inter Miami (United States) The 2026 World Cup is also known as Messi’s Last Dance. He led Argentina to a thrilling victory over France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has helped La Abiceleste win the last two Copa América crowns. Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup, but his place and status on the team is as strong as ever. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said Messi can and will be part of the national team for as long as he wants. Now playing at Inter Miami in MLS, winning a World Cup on American soil could be a fitting end to a legendary career. Notable stat: No player has won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi with eight, and he also holds the record for most matches played in World Cup history, along with being tied for the fourth-most goals ever with 13. Riyad Mahrez | Forward | Algeria Age: 35National team appearances: 113Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Mahrez is considered Algeria’s best player, winning multiple club trophies with Manchester City and being part of Leicester City’s improbable 2015-16 Premier League title team. Now playing club ball in Saudi Arabia, Mahrez will take part in his first World Cup after having led Les Verts to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. Another notable name on Algeria’s roster is Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, who switched international allegiances in 2025. Notable stat: Mahrez spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League, where he scored 82 goals and 63 assists in 284 appearances for Leicester City and Manchester City. Marcel Sabitzer | Midfielder | Austria Age: 32National team appearances: 97Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) Sabitzer scored the winning goal to beat the Netherlands in the group stage of the 2024 Euros. The 32-year-old midfielder has made 95 appearances for his national team and has scored 23 goals, and he’s an integral piece of this squad. Notable stat: Sabitzer has been playing top flight European football since 2014, making more than 330 appearances for clubs like RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Musa Al-Taamari | Forward | Jordan Age: 28National team appearances: 90Club: Stade Rennais (France) There are a few players on this World Cup debut team who are based in Europe, and Al-Taamari is one of them. He predominantly plays right wing for French side Stade Rennais FC, where he’s scored three goals and had five assists in Ligue 1 this season. He will be one of the most important parts of Jordan’s attack. Notable stat: Al-Taamari has made more than 80 appearances in France’s Ligue 1 since 2023, playing for Rennes and Montpellier. With 23 international goals, he is 11 shy of breaking the all-time record for Jordan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP K Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Portugal Age: 41National team appearances: 226Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Just like Messi, this is expected to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup. But unlike Messi, Ronaldo has yet to lift the sport’s most prestigious trophy. It’s truly the only accolade that’s eluded him in his career, and there’s nothing the 41-year-old forward wants more. Now, Ronaldo isn’t the most important player for Portugal anymore, but he’s still captain and the face of the team. He would give anything to ride off into the retirement sunset on top of the football world. Notable stat: On pace to be the first player to officially eclipse 1,000 career goals scored, Ronaldo is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in five different editions of the tournament. Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Defender | Congo DR Age: 28National team appearances: 9Club: West Ham United (England) Wan-Bissaka is a household name among Premier League fans. With more than 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham United, the 28-year-old fullback has carved a solid club career in England. Had he not gotten injured before two of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers seven years ago, he’d likely be permanently cap-tied to the Three Lions under FIFA rules. Instead, he switched to the country of his roots last year. Now he’ll represent the Leopards on the biggest stage of all. Notable stat: Wan-Bissaka was named the West Ham United Player of the Season in 2024-25 and the Crystal Palace Player of the Season in 2018-19. Abdukodir Khusanov | Defender | Uzbekistan Age: 22National team appearances: 25Club: Manchester City (England) Football fans should be somewhat familiar with this City center back. The 22-year-old defender has had a quick rise from playing youth soccer in Uzbekistan to now thriving as the first player from his country to feature regularly in the Premier League. He was a standout defender in the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal. Notable stat: Khusanov has made more than 40 appearances for Manchester City this season, including six in the Champions League. James Rodriguez | Midfielder | Colombia Age: 34National team appearances: 124Club: Minnesota United (United States) The main scoring threat for Los Cafeteros will be winger Luis Diaz, but James Rodriguez will serve as captain for Colombia. The 2014 Golden Boot winner will turn 35 during the World Cup, and while the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich striker’s club fortunes have changed — his short-term deal with MLS side Minnesota United hasn’t gone as planned due to a brief hospitalization in March with dehydration — he remains an important player for Colombia. Notable stat: Rodriguez is six appearances and six goals shy of breaking the Colombia national team record in both categories. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP L Harry Kane | Forward | England Age: 32National team appearances: 112Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) England is going to need Kane to score some goals this summer. The 32-year-old star striker is the Three Lions’ all-time record holder with 78 goals in 112 appearances, and he has 52 this season for his club Bayern Munich. However, this was an area where Kane struggled four years ago in Qatar, only scoring two goals at the 2022 World Cup. Kane will be motivated to do everything to finally bring an international title home. Notable stat: Kane is the English Premier League’s second all-time leading scorer with 213 goals to his name. Luka Modrić | Midfielder | Croatia Age: 40National team appearances: 196Club: AC Milan (Italy) Of course, it’s the 40-year-old midfielder, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup. Like peers Messi and Ronaldo, we are expecting this to be his last one. He’s become a footballing icon with flair on the pitch with his technical ability and overall presence, as well as off of it — as his long hair and headband make him impossible to miss. He figures to reach the 200-game mark during this summer’s tournament. Notable stat: The greatest Croatian player of all time, he is the overall leader in appearances with 196 and, most notably, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. Antoine Semenyo | Forward | Ghana Age: 26National team appearances: 34Club: Manchester City (England) Semenyo has been a revelation for Manchester City this season (11 goal contributions in 19 appearances), and that bodes well for the Black Stars. And with Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudos still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in January, there’s further responsibility on Semenyo’s shoulders this summer. Notable stat: The 26-year-old scored 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances for Bournemouth before being acquired by Manchester City in January of this year. Adalberto Carrasquilla | Midfielder | Panama Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) Carrasquilla is a dynamic and impactful midfielder for Panama. He received a red card in a 2024 Copa América group stage match against the U.S. that forced his team to play down a man — though the Panamanians still managed to pull off the victory and eliminate the Americans. He’s a veteran for his national team with 70 appearances and will play an important role for his side as it prepares to face a challenging group. Notable stat: Carrasquilla won the Golden Ball at the 2023 Gold Cup, where Panama finished as runners-up to Mexico. How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Los Angeles Rams have made one of the surprise picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they’ve found their potential successor to Matthew Stafford. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was taken by the Rams with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The selection was widely viewed as a stunner, with most mock drafts not having Simpson getting taken until the end of the first round. In fact, FOX Sports lead draft analyst Rob Rang didn’t have Simpson going in the first round of his most recent mock draft. Most big boards also had Simpson rated as a fringe first-round pick, at best, too. Rang ranked Simpson the 33rd overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft in his top 150 prospects list. “Simpson, a former 5-star recruit, torched the SEC for 28 touchdowns and a conference-leading 3,567 yards in his lone season as a starter in Tuscaloosa, showing the pro-caliber accuracy to project as a future NFL starter,” Rang wrote. “The traits were obvious during the throwing session at the Combine, all but cementing his position as the No. 2 quarterback in this class. Simpson has a quick release, plenty of zip and excellent touch to make every NFL throw — but there were some “deer in the headlights” moments on his game tape. Moreover, the track record of quarterbacks selected in the first round with 20 or fewer starts (Simpson has 15) is a bright red flag.” FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt ranked Simpson as his No. 32 overall prospect in his top 50 ranking. But Klatt was a bigger fan of Simpson than his draft ranking might indicate. “Simpson is kind of all over the place on these big boards,” Klatt wrote. “I’m a Simpson fan. I know his size is going to turn some people away, but if you watch him play, the film suggests he plays a lot bigger than his actual frame. The reason is that he makes really strong and accurate intermediate and deep-level throws, particularly outside the numbers. When you can do that, do I really care about your size? He’s a battler. This guy’s a warrior in there. Some of those games he played — Georgia and Oklahoma on the road — he was exceptional. He was a real bright spot for Alabama.” Simpson was only a one-year starter at Alabama. He helped the Crimson Tide reach the College Football Playoff, going 11-4. He threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025. Simpson will likely back up Stafford for at least the 2026 season as the 38-year-old is coming off an MVP year in 2025. It was recently reported that the Rams and Stafford were making progress toward an extension, with the quarterback entering the final year of his current deal. Still, most expected Los Angeles to select a wide receiver at No. 13, with players like USC’s Makai Lemon and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. still on the board.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Arvell Reese is considered one of the most intriguing prospects in the NFL Draft, valued for his elite versatility as both an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher. He is now set to join the New York Giants, who selected him with the No. 5 overall pick. Reese, 20, won the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award and earned consensus All-American honors. He was also a finalist for the national Butkus Award and played a key role in the Buckeyes’ defense, which finished No. 1 in college football in both scoring defense (9.3 points per game) and total defense (219.1 yards per game). Here’s what else to know about Reese. Stats Reese logged 69 total tackles (34 solo), 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections at Ohio State this past season. What FOX Sports’ draft analysts have said about Reese FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt ranked Reese as his No. 3 overall prospect in his top 50 ranking and didn’t shy away from his ceiling or the high level of potential he brings to the league. “Reese has an enormous ceiling,” Klatt wrote. “He’s just scratching the surface. He had one year as a starter, and it was an outstanding year. He was basically playing two positions a lot of the time because he was an off-ball linebacker, as the lineup would tell you, but then Ohio State used him off the edge as a pass rusher and a blitzer on the interior. He’s got great bend and athleticism. If Styles wasn’t putting together one of the great combines we’ve ever seen, Reese would’ve been the one that was coming up huge.” FOX Sports lead draft analyst Rob Rang ranked Reese second overall in his top 150 prospects ranking and even compared him to one of the NFL’s best defensive stars. “A blue-chip talent who starred mostly as an off-ball linebacker at Ohio State but possesses the twitch to attack off the edge, Reese is arguably the best prospect in this class,” Rang wrote. “In terms of sheer athleticism, versatility and career trajectory, I see an awful lot of similarities between Reese and another former Big Ten star you might have heard of: Micah Parsons.” Team fit While the Giants didn’t necessarily need an edge rusher, New York needed some pass-rushing help to make up for the loss of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is also entering the final year of his rookie contract, so it was a position that New York needed to address at some point in the coming years. Draft Grade Rang gave the Giants’ selection of Reese an A-.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Carnell Tate might not have the statistical résumé that many would expect as a high draft selection, but his tape speaks for itself. He is heading to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 after putting together two strong seasons in Columbus. He played a key role in the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship run and earned First-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team Academic All-American honors this past season. Along with those accolades, Tate was named the Vertical Threat of the Year award winner after leading the country with six receiving touchdowns on passes of 30 or more air yards. That type of downfield explosiveness is an element the (BLANK) could certainly use. Here’s what else to know about Tate. Stats Tate had 51 receptions for 875 yards (17.2 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns. What FOX Sports’ draft analysts have said about Tate FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Bucky Brooks ranked Tate as the No. 2 wide receiver in his top 10 ranking. He also made a strong comparison, likening the Ohio State star to a future NFL Hall of Famer. “The acrobatic pass-catcher blossomed into a hybrid WR1/WR2 candidate during his tenure with the Buckeyes,” Brooks wrote. “As the complementary playmaker opposite a future first-round pick, Tate punished opponents who attempted to double-team Jeremiah Smith. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Tate averaged 17.2 yards per catch and scored nine touchdowns in 2025, exhibiting big-play potential as a vertical threat and chain-mover capabilities as an underneath receiver in the mold of Davante Adams.” FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt ranked Tate as his No. 7 overall in his top 50 player ranking. He also believes the trend of Ohio State wide receiver success in the league will continue with Tate. “Outstanding downfield threat,” Klatt wrote. “You talk about contested catch situations; this guy is terrific. He got overshadowed because of the absolute beast on the other side of the field in Jeremiah Smith. But Tate is outstanding and he’s a technician, which is what you would expect from Ohio State. He’s a smooth route runner, 6-2 and 195 pounds. He’s got good speed and quickness. Because he comes out of that tree, you know he will produce. Every single one of these Ohio State receivers goes into the league and they’re ready-made to produce right away. Tate is one of them. FOX Sports lead draft analyst Rob Rang ranked Tate as his No. 11 overall in his top 150 player rankings. He made sure to highlight Tate’s overall game and how he can win in a multitude of different ways against defenders. “Receiver is one of the better positional groups of this year’s draft class, and Tate tops it because of his ability to win in multiple ways,” Rang wrote. “The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has excellent body control, hand-eye coordination and grit to pull in contested passes, and he’s surprisingly slippery as a route-runner with excellent tracking skills.” Team Fit Tate joins a relatively young offense in Tennessee as the Titans hope to pair him with quarterback Cam Ward for years to come. While the Titans have veterans at wide receiver like Calvin Ridley and Wan’dale Robinson, Tate stands a chance to become Ward’s No. 1 wide receiver immediately as Brian Daboll takes over as offensive coordinator. Draft Grade Rang gave the Titans’ selection of Tate a grade of B+.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A total of 257 picks will be made in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there will also be several trades made throughout the three days as well. As some expect the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to potentially set the record for the most trades made in a first round ever, let’s keep track of all the deals made throughout the opening rounds. We’ll also have grades on each trade from our Eric D. Williams. Browns trade No. 6 to Chiefs Chiefs get: No. 6 overall pickBrowns get: No. 9 overall pick, No. 74 overall pick, No. 148 overall pick The Chiefs moved up three spots in the NFL Draft, giving up a third round pick and a fifth round pick. The Chiefs selected LSU CB Mansoor Delane. Delane was one of the top cornerbacks available. The Browns selected Utah OL Spencer Fano. Williams: Kansas City general manager Brett Veach said he expected a lot of trades in this year’s draft. And with 10 picks in this year’s draft, including two in the first round and a rare pick in the Top-10, it’s not surprising that the Chiefs moved up to fill an obvious need in LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City needed replacements in the secondary after trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams, along with losing cornerback Jaylen Watson to Los Angeles in free agency and safety Byran Cook to the Bengals in free agency. The top-rated cornerback in this year’s draft, Mansoor gives defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a developmental piece to help fill the talent void in the back end defensively. And the Chiefs didn’t have to give up much to make the trade work. Cleveland had nine picks heading into this year’s draft, including one of six teams that had two picks in the first round. The Browns need offensive line and receiver help. And with several talented options at both of those position groups, the Browns wisely traded down, picking up two selections in the process to give them 11 picks in this year’s draft. Cleveland used that pick from Kansas City at No. 9 to select Spencer Fano, the first offensive lineman taken in this year’s draft as the Browns continue to focus on upgrading the trenches. Chiefs grade: B+Browns grade: A- Dolphins trade No. 11 to Cowboys Cowboys get: No. 11 overall pick Dolphins get: No. 12 overall, No. 177 overall, No. 180 overall​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports