FIFA unveils World Cup Dream XI after tournament concludes
Following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has revealed its official Dream XI, recognising the tournament’s top performers. The selection, determined by a global fan vote, highlights standout players from the six-week competition held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. While Spain, France, and Argentina, all semi-finalists, dominate the team, England, who finished third, has one representative.
Jude Bellingham is the sole England player to be included in FIFA’s Dream XI. His selection follows a strong performance in the tournament, where he scored seven goals, marking the highest tally ever recorded by an England player at a single FIFA World Cup. This contribution helped the Three Lions achieve their best finish since their 1966 victory. Despite other notable performances from England players, such as Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick against France and Declan Rice’s display in the third-place play-off, Bellingham was the only English player voted into the final XI.
Spain, the tournament champions, have three players in the Dream XI. Rodri, who captained Spain to their second World Cup title and also won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, anchors the midfield. He is joined by full-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. Spain’s unbeaten run culminated in a victory over Argentina in the final, conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament.
France, despite finishing fourth, also contributes three players to the Dream XI. Kylian Mbappé, the Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, occupies the right side of the attack. He became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice and surpassed Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record with 22 career goals. Michael Olise secured a midfield spot, having recorded seven assists, the most by any player in a single FIFA World Cup. Dayot Upamecano completes the French contingent in central defence.
Argentina, the beaten finalists, have two players in the Dream XI. Lionel Messi features on the left wing, ending the tournament with eight goals and four assists. Defender Lisandro Martínez partners Upamecano in the central defence. Completing the front three is Norway striker Erling Haaland, who, in his World Cup debut, scored seven goals and helped his country reach their first-ever quarter-final appearance.
Goalkeeper Selection
The goalkeeper selection for the Dream XI presented a surprise, with fans voting for Cape Verde veteran Vozinha. This choice was made over Golden Glove winner Unai Simón of Spain, England’s Jordan Pickford, or France’s Mike Maignan. The 40-year-old Vozinha emerged as a notable figure during Cape Verde’s journey to the Round of 32, where they were narrowly defeated 3-2 after extra time by eventual finalists Argentina.
Vozinha’s performances included keeping clean sheets against both Spain and Saudi Arabia. He made 18 saves throughout the tournament and reportedly outperformed his expected goals against figure by 0.9. His impact extended beyond the pitch, as his social media following significantly increased. He began Cape Verde’s opening match against Spain with approximately 50,000 Instagram followers, a number that reportedly surged to 29.5 million by the end of the World Cup, following his seven saves against the eventual champions and continued strong play.
Individual Honours
The Dream XI announcement follows other individual honours awarded at the conclusion of the tournament. Rodri received the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé were awarded the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively. Mbappé’s 10 goals earned him the Golden Boot, while Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón secured the Golden Glove after conceding only one goal in eight matches. Additionally, teenage defender Pau Cubarsí was recognised with the FIFA Young Player Award, and the Netherlands received the FIFA Fair Play Award for accumulating only three yellow cards during their campaign.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
