As I went to Gillette Stadium to see a practice match between France and Brazil, I came out of the match feeling like it was money well spent. The atmosphere was tense for a friendly and the fans made it feel like it was a life-or-death situation – even if this was a practice match for the World Cup.

As the countdown is on for the World Cup Final Draw on Friday, these are some of the names that are poised to dominate headlines in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These names are also names of people unlikely to play in the 2030 World Cup or 2034 World Cup due to their age.