5 rookie European footballers shine at FIFA World Cup qualification

5 rookie European footballers shine at FIFA World Cup qualification
Player Nationality Position
David BolyFranceRight Back
Krystof CizekCzechiaCentral midfielder
Noah FernandezBelgiumAttacking Midfielder
Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez England               Striker
Jaden UmehRepublic of IrelandWinger

5 rookie football players are set to shine at the FIFA World Cup Qualification Game, 2026. World football has been impressed by 5 rookie European footballers in recent days, who are shining in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification for the UEFA region. Following the conclusion of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying tournament, 11 nations from the continent have booked their tickets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™.  

Holders, Germany, will be joined at the global finals by Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Italy, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, and Switzerland, with the event set to take place from 3 to 27 November. 

FIFA looks at five players who impressed in Round 2 of UEFA qualifying. 


1.David Boly( best among 5 rookie European footballers)

France | Right-back 

David Boly is among 5 European footballers shining at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification. Les Bleuets were undoubtedly one of the most impressive sides during the qualifying tournament, winning all three of their matches and conceding just twice.  

Right-back Boly played his part at both ends of the field, as the tough-tackling Paris Saint-Germain starlet earned rave reviews for his athleticism and reading of the game. He used both to pop up at the back post and square for Djylian N’Guessan to equalize in the 5-1 rout of Greece. 

Saint-Etienne pair N’Guessan, who netted a second-round high-five goals, and Paul Eymard also impressed.


2. Krystof Cizek(Richy talented among 5 european Rookie)

Czechia | Central midfielder

Among 5 rookie European footballers, Cizek is richly talented. For the first time since 2011, Czechia will compete at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with midfield dynamo Cizek a big reason for their inclusion.

While Cizek is capable of playing deeper and dictating play with a wide range of passing, he was deployed further forward in Pavel Drsek’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with the added attacking onus paying dividends. He found the net in the 3-2 win over Sweden before firing in two penalties as captain against Switzerland in the all-important third match, which confirmed their place as Group A5 winners.


3. Noah Fernandez 

Belgium | Attacking midfielder 

Among 5 rookie Europeans, Fernandez starred throughout Belgium’s three matches, with the midfielder, who can also operate out wide, recording at least one goal contribution in each to impressed other to become 5  


Alejandro Gomes Rodríguez 

England | Striker 

Gomes Rodriguez has already been around the houses in his young career. The Lyon man has represented England, Portugal, and Venezuela at a variety of youth levels, but now looks to have found his feet in the Three Lions set-up. 

He showed incredible strength and footwork to net the opener against Israel before notching another in the second half. Against Slovenia, with the score 2-2, the electric forward received the ball to the left of the box, dribbled past two defenders, and fired in an 84th-minute winner, which confirmed England’s place at the finals. 

https://www.ol.fr/en/news/article-26


Jaden Umeh 

Republic of Ireland | Winger 

Quick, strong, and a talented dribbler, Republic of Ireland star Umeh earned a move to Benfica from Cork City last August and showed all of Europe why he is such a highly thought-of talent. 

After impressing in their narrow defeat to Belgium, the winger hit a game-deciding brace against Poland to give Colin O’Brien’s side hopes of qualification. He then scored two further goals in a 5-0 hammering of Iceland, which booked the nation a first-ever shot at the finals. 

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