The Forwards You Need in Your 2026 FIFA World Cup Fantasy Squad

By Kudakwashe Gahadzikwa | Jun 4, 2026 | 4 Min read

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here, and while millions of fans will be glued to their screens watching the action unfold across the United States, Canada and Mexico, there is another game being played simultaneously, one that takes place on phones, laptops and tablets in living rooms, offices and bars around the world.

Fantasy football has transformed the way supporters engage with major tournaments, giving every fan a personal stake in every goal scored, every penalty converted and every clean sheet kept. The more goals your players score, the more points you accumulate, and with 48 nations competing across an expanded group stage, the opportunities for goals have never been greater.

With that in mind, here are the forwards worth building your Fantasy squad around.

Erling Haaland who is $10.5m for Norway

Group I Fixtures: Iraq, Senegal, France

Norway's talismanic striker is the first name on most Fantasy managers' teamsheets, and for good reason. Haaland scored 16 goals as Norway swept through their qualifying campaign with eight wins from eight matches, combining deadly finishing from open play with the added security of being his country's penalty taker. His Matchday 1 fixture against Iraq is the most appealing of his group stage assignments and represents a golden opportunity to rack up a big haul early in the tournament.

Norway's remaining fixtures against Senegal and France, however, place them firmly in the tournament's most challenging group, meaning Haaland's returns beyond Matchday 1 are far from guaranteed. He could prove to be an excellent choice for the 12th Man chip in the opening matchday.

Harry Kane $10.5m, England

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Group L

Fixtures: Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Harry Kane arrives at this World Cup in the form of his life. The Bayern Munich striker scored 61 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions this season, and his eight goals in European qualifying, joint second most on the continent, underline just how lethal he remains at international level.

At 32, Kane is leading an England side that won all eight of their qualifying matches under Thomas Tuchel, who has maintained the striker's central role as the team's primary goal threat and first-choice penalty taker.

Group L presents a realistic pathway to the knockout rounds, with Panama in Matchday 3 looking particularly favourable for a Kane haul. England are among the tournament favourites, and their talented squad gives Kane every chance of extending his record international tally of 78 goals.

Kylian Mbappe $10.5m , France Group I

Fixtures: Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Few players in world football carry the goal threat that Mbappe does at a World Cup. His record of 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances is extraordinary, and he arrives at this tournament having scored five goals and provided three assists in just four qualifying matches.

Mbappe is already one goal shy of becoming France's all-time leading scorer, despite having played around 40 fewer games than record holder Olivier Giroud, and it would come as no surprise if he breaks that record in the United States.

His most favourable group stage fixture comes on Matchday 2 against Iraq. France are considered by many to be among the tournament's strongest contenders to go all the way, making Mbappe one of the safest premium investments in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo, $10.0m Portugal

Group K Fixtures: DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia

At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certainly competing at his final World Cup, and he has shown no signs of fading. After a difficult Euro 2024 campaign without a goal, Ronaldo responded emphatically by scoring eight times and registering an assist in nine Nations League matches as he guided Portugal to the title.

He scored five times before missing Portugal's qualification-clinching final match through suspension. Group K, which features DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, is highly favourable, with the first two opponents in particular presenting Ronaldo with an excellent opportunity to contribute both from open play and the penalty spot in the early matchdays.

Lionel Messi, $10.0m Argentina

Group Fixtures: Algeria, Austria, Jordan

The reigning World Cup champion arrives at this tournament as its most decorated active player and shows no intention of letting age slow him down. Messi scored eight goals and assisted three more in 10 qualifying appearances for Argentina, both team-high figures, and has been in fine form for Inter Miami this season with 12 goals and seven assists in 14 MLS matches.

He turns 39 during the group stage but is expected to feature from Matchday 1.

Beyond his goals, Messi carries the additional Fantasy appeal of being Argentina's designated taker of both penalties and free-kicks, with the latter worth bonus points in this game's scoring system. His opening group fixtures against Algeria, Austria and Jordan give Argentina every reason to expect a smooth passage to the knockout rounds.

Budget Options Worth Considering

For Fantasy managers looking to free up funds for the premium options, there are several lower-priced forwards who offer genuine value. Mexico's Raul Jimenez ($7.0m) is an experienced and reliable goal-scorer who could deliver a strong return in his side's opener against South Africa.

South Korea's Son Heung-min ($7.4m) arrives with 10 qualifying goals and four assists across 12 matches, while Uruguay's Darwin Nunez ($7.5m) has favourable early fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde that could see him hit the ground running.

Switzerland's Breel Embolo ($7.5m) is his country's top qualifier scorer with eight goals and three assists and could deliver consistent returns from a group that includes Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada. Dutch forward Cody Gakpo ($7.7m) is another option worth monitoring, while Japan's Ayase Ueda ($7.0m), who finished the Eredivisie season with a league-high 25 goals, is one of the most in-form strikers heading into the tournament.

With goals set to flow across what promises to be the most expansive World Cup in history, getting your forward line right could be the difference between topping your Fantasy mini-league and watching from the bottom. Choose wisely.