There are just 12 days to go until the biggest FIFA World Cup in history. There have been complaints, primarily from European fans, that the expansion to 48 teams has reduced the quality of the tournament.
Whilst there is some merit to the argument, the expansion has also widened the talent pool. After all, a world-class player like Ryan Giggs never played at a World Cup because Wales did not qualify during his career. So, whilst not all 48 teams have elite talent, every squad, without exception, has at least one player capable of making the world take notice. From today, we bring you each team's best, starting with Group A.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Mexico: Raúl Jiménez
The 35-year-old made his debut in 2013 and has played 125 matches, up to May 30, scoring 44 goals. He is third on the list of Mexico's all-time top scorers—Javier Hernández is first with 52 and Jared Borgetti is second with 46. But he has never scored at a World Cup; he has made six substitute appearances in Mexico's 11 matches at the last three World Cups. He finally seems to have staked a claim to the starting role with nine goals in 14 games in 2025.
Jiménez, who played 43 matches for Fulham this season, contributing 10 goals and three assists, is strong, skilled, and clinical. The team has hit form at the right time and is unbeaten in six games in 2026. Mexico are the top-ranked team in the group (15) and begin the tournament at the iconic Azteca Stadium on June 11 against South Africa.
South Africa: Ronwen Williams
The tournament opener may end up being a showdown between Jiménez and Williams. The Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana captain has been the best goalkeeper in African club football for the better part of four seasons, and is fresh from leading his club to the CAF Champions League title. He kept 20 clean sheets in 45 games for Sundowns across all competitions this season. He famously saved four penalties in the quarter-final shootout at the AFCON in 2023, before saving two in the third-place match to put South Africa on the podium. He became the first Africa-based player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2024—he was nominated for the Yashin Trophy and placed ninth.
The 34-year-old was with Tottenham Hotspur during his youth career but has never played senior football outside South Africa. With South Africa being the lowest-ranked team in the group (60), he will have his work cut out during the World Cup, but on his day, he can be a match-winner for the team.
South Korea: Lee Kang-in
In theory, this should be an easy group for South Korea (25) to navigate. But key players like captain Son Heung-min and centre-back Kim Min-jae are not at their absolute best heading into the tournament. Kim, very much a bench player at Bayern Munich, will still be the foundational rock at the back for Korea. And Son, now 33, can still produce a moment of magic.
However, Lee has become the team's most important player. This is illustrated by the fact that he has played the second-most minutes, behind Kim, since the start of 2025. At club level, Lee is also on the fringes, but he has featured 39 times this season (nine goal contributions) for arguably the world's best attacking side—newly crowned back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain. He has the quality to unlock any defence at the World Cup.
Czechia: Patrik Schick
Premier League duo Tomáš Souček and Ladislav Krejčí will be vital, but Schick will be the main threat. The Bayer Leverkusen striker has 22 goals and four assists in all competitions in 2025–26, and five in 10 for Czechia since the start of 2025. He scored five goals at Euro 2020, including one from the halfway line against Scotland that is among the finest ever struck at a major tournament.
Injuries have interrupted what should have been a more decorated club career, but he arrives healthy and sharp this time. For a Czechia side ranked 41st, he is not just the biggest weapon; he will be the difference between a group-stage exit and something more. They open against South Korea on June 12 in Guadalajara.
