World Cup team of the tournament: Our writers make their picks – and there’s no room for Kane
Seven writers from The Athletic each selected their best XI from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the constraint of a maximum of two players per nation. The article discusses the selections, including notable omissions like Harry Kane and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, and highlights left-field picks such as Julian Quinones and Youri Tielemans. Writers provide reasoning for their choices, with Oliver Kay opting for Spain's Rodri and Pau Cubarsi, Cape Verde's Diney, and Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir in goal. Mark Carey offers a data-led approach, selecting Switzerland's Gregor Kobel, Colombia's Daniel Munoz, and England's Djed Spence. The piece also references FIFA's official 'Dream XI' featuring three Spanish players, three French, two Argentinians, and one each from England, Norway, and Cape Verde.
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