The Best Defenders at World Cup 2026
Hakimi's two-way dominance, Van Dijk's authority, Saliba's calm, an 18-year-old in Cubarsí — we rank the 11 defenders who will decide World Cup 2026, with the 2025-26 evidence behind each pick.
Kickoff Staff
News & Analysis
624 stories published
Guides, explainers and analysis for the first 48-team World Cup. Every story is human-reviewed, sourced and bylined.
- Human-reviewed
- Sourced & bylined
- Updated through kickoff
Transfers
European Giants Vie for Talent: Torres to PSG Looms, Barcola
PSG leads the race for Barcelona's Ferran Torres, while Real Madrid faces transfer hurdles. Barcola's hefty price tag and other European moves dominate the transfer window.
Kickoff Editorial1 min read