World Cup 2026: Five players from the Middle East to watch out for Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 06/11/2026 - 15:00 One moment. That’s all a player needs to cement their legend and live on in folklore Morocco's Achraf Hakimi looks on from the substitutes bench at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 29 December 2025 (AFP/Gabriel Bouys) Off Players, coaches, and supporters from every corner of the world are descending on Mexico, Canada and the United States as the minutes tick down to the 2026 World Cup . This year, there are 48 nations chasing glory, with a record eight countries representing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).