These 15 World Cup-linked players could become smart FM26 signings, from cheap squad boosters to future elite transfer targets.
Forget the obvious names.
Everyone already knows about Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. They are not hidden gems. They are not bargains. They are the players your board pretends you can afford before handing you £7.5 million and asking you to be “creative”.
The real Football Manager value comes from the next layer down.
The players who arrive at the World Cup as interesting scout reports. The ones who might not be global superstars yet, but have enough quality, age profile or market timing to become serious FM26 targets before their reputation gets silly.
This list is built around the FM26 database shown in the screenshots below. Some players may have moved clubs in real life by the time you read this, but in this database these are the clubs, values and squad situations you will see in-game.
That matters. A player might be a bargain in real life and already expensive in FM26. Another might be unfashionable outside the biggest leagues but perfect for your save. The job is not just to find talent. The job is to find the right talent before the AI clubs ruin the market.
Here are 15 World Cup hidden gems you should scout in FM26.
1. Gilberto Mora - Tijuana
FM26 club: Tijuana
Position: AM (C)
Value: £4.3M - £7.2M
Player type: Teenage creative midfielder
Gilberto Mora is the cleanest hidden gem on this list.
He is 16 in this FM26 database, already has Mexico caps, and his technical profile is ridiculous for his age. First Touch 15, Technique 16, Flair 16, Passing 14 and Decisions 14 make him look like the type of player FM managers usually discover too late.
The value range is the big hook. At £4.3M - £7.2M, Mora is still in that sweet spot where ambitious European clubs can move early before his reputation explodes. If he gets a bigger role for Mexico, that window could close very quickly.
He is not physically dominant yet, and he will need minutes rather than bench duty. But if your club has strong coaches, good facilities and a clear pathway for young attacking midfielders, Mora should be one of the first names on your shortlist.
- Scout him for: Long-term creative midfield development
- Best club fit: Talent factories, smart European recruiters, elite academies, clubs that give teenagers real minutes
- FM26 warning: Do not wait two seasons. He will not stay cheap.
2. Sidny Lopes Cabral - Benfica
FM26 club: Benfica
Position: D/WB (RL)
Value: £5.4M - £9.2M
Player type: Two-sided wide defender
Sidny Lopes Cabral is exactly the sort of player who makes World Cup scouting fun.
He is not a headline superstar, but in FM26 he has a useful profile straight away. He can play on both sides of defence, has either-footed ability, Crossing 15, Pace 15, Natural Fitness 16 and Off The Ball 15.
That gives him obvious squad value. You are not just buying a left-back or a right-back. You are buying a flexible wide defender who can cover both flanks, stretch the pitch and give you useful depth without needing two separate signings.
The Benfica tag is always dangerous, because they know how to price talent. Even so, his £5.4M - £9.2M value makes him one of the better value plays on this list.
He is not perfect. Decisions 8 and Anticipation 8 mean he may need careful development and a manager who can live with some rough edges. But the physical and technical base is good enough to make him very interesting.
- Scout him for: Flexible full-back and wing-back depth
- Best club fit: Portuguese challengers, Europa League clubs, promoted sides, clubs that need two flank options in one signing
- FM26 warning: He is cheap enough to move early, but Benfica players rarely stay underpriced for long.
3. Nestory Irankunda - Watford
FM26 club: Watford
Position: M (R), AM (RL)
Value: £5.2M - £6.8M
Player type: Explosive wide attacker
Nestory Irankunda is chaos in football boots.
In FM26, that can be both brilliant and terrifying. He has Acceleration 17, Pace 18, Agility 16 and Flair 16, which means he can absolutely murder tired full-backs. Then you look at Composure 8, Decisions 7, Teamwork 8 and Passing 8, and suddenly you understand why he might also make you shout at your monitor.
That is not a reason to ignore him. It is a reason to use him properly.
Irankunda is not the player you sign to calmly control matches. He is the player you bring in when your attack is too polite. Give him minutes, give him space to run into, and accept that young wide players with this much pace are never going to be tidy every week.
At £5.2M - £6.8M, he is one of the best risk-reward signings here. If his end product develops, the profit margin could be huge.
- Scout him for: Raw pace, 1v1 threat and impact minutes
- Best club fit: Championship promotion clubs, lower Premier League sides, Dutch and Belgian developers, clubs that can afford to gamble on upside
- FM26 warning: He needs coaching and patience, but the athletic ceiling is obvious.
4. Adalberto Carrasquilla - Pumas
FM26 club: Pumas
Position: M (C), AM (R)
Value: £475K - £4.7M
Player type: Immediate midfield bargain
This is the proper bargain on the list.
Adalberto Carrasquilla is not a wonderkid. He is 26, experienced, and already has 59 caps for Panama in this database. That is exactly why he is useful.
FM players sometimes get obsessed with resale value and forget that a save can be won by signing someone who is good right now. Carrasquilla has Dribbling 15, Flair 15, Work Rate 14, Stamina 14, Passing 13, Vision 13 and enough mobility to help across midfield.
For £475K - £4.7M, he is a brilliant pick for clubs that need midfield quality without waiting three seasons for a teenager to stop being nervous.
He will not become a £70M superstar, but he can upgrade a squad immediately. That makes him one of the smartest short-term value picks in the entire article.
- Scout him for: Immediate midfield quality on a sensible fee
- Best club fit: Liga MX saves, MLS clubs, Belgian sides, Portuguese mid-table teams, promotion pushes and survival rebuilds
- FM26 warning: Do not dismiss him because of age. He is the cheap smart signing.
5. Abdul Fatawu - Leicester
FM26 club: Leicester
Position: AM (R)
Value: £22M - £30M
Player type: Left-footed right-sided attacker
Abdul Fatawu is not dirt cheap, but he is exactly the type of wide player who can win you matches in FM26.
His Dribbling 16, Acceleration 17, Pace 15, Flair 15 and Long Shots 14 make him dangerous from the right side. He is left-footed, which gives him that natural threat of cutting inside, shooting from range or driving into central areas.
The attraction here is simple: he gives you threat without needing to be the main star. He can stretch a defence, beat his man, shoot from range and add unpredictability to an attack that has become too safe.
At Leicester, the deal depends on your save. If they are flying, the price will be painful. If they wobble, this is the sort of player you should be watching like a hawk.
- Scout him for: Direct right-sided threat and match-winning moments
- Best club fit: Premier League mid-table clubs, Bundesliga sides with money, ambitious Championship teams, clubs needing an explosive wide attacker
- FM26 warning: The price is already serious, so wait for the right market moment.
6. Ben Gannon-Doak - Bournemouth
FM26 club: Bournemouth
Position: AM (RL)
Value: £34M - £57M
Player type: High-upside Premier League winger
Ben Gannon-Doak is already expensive in this FM26 database, but that does not make him irrelevant.
It just changes the type of save he belongs in.
At Bournemouth, he is valued between £34M and £57M, which puts him outside bargain territory. But his attributes are exactly what you want from a modern wide attacker: Dribbling 17, Acceleration 16, Determination 18, Flair 15 and Work Rate 14.
That combination is nasty. He is not just fast. He is driven, aggressive, and built to run at full-backs over and over again.
He may not be the cheap hidden gem, but he is the “buy before he becomes completely stupid money” target. If Bournemouth have a poor season or he becomes unsettled, you move fast.
- Scout him for: Elite young wide depth with homegrown appeal
- Best club fit: Rich Premier League clubs, Champions League hopefuls, clubs needing a long-term British wide option
- FM26 warning: He is not cheap, but his mentality makes him more than a pace merchant.
7. Ernest Nuamah - OL
FM26 club: OL
Position: AM (RL)
Value: £36M - £47M
Player type: Direct left-footed wide attacker
Ernest Nuamah sits in the awkward but interesting FM bracket.
He is not cheap enough for everyone. He is not famous enough to be treated like a global superstar. That is usually where smart recruitment lives.
In FM26, Nuamah has Pace 16, Acceleration 16, Dribbling 16, Technique 15 and Off The Ball 15. He is left-footed, comfortable from both attacking wide zones, and already has Ghana caps.
The big appeal is how much he can change the speed of your attack. He can carry the ball, attack space, beat his man and keep defenders honest. For clubs that need a proper wide threat rather than another safe passer, he is a serious option.
The OL situation is always worth watching in FM. If the club needs money, Nuamah can become a more realistic target than his opening value suggests.
- Scout him for: Direct wide attacking quality
- Best club fit: Ligue 1 challengers, Premier League mid-table clubs, Serie A sides with European money, Bundesliga top-half teams
- FM26 warning: He is costly, but still below the elite winger tax.
8. Ibrahim Maza - Bayer Leverkusen
FM26 club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Position: M/AM (C)
Value: £56M - £70M
Player type: Elite creative midfielder
Ibrahim Maza is not a bargain. Let us get that out of the way.
In this FM26 database, he is already valued at £56M - £70M at Bayer Leverkusen. That means smaller clubs can forget it, unless your chairman has discovered oil under the training ground.
But for elite saves, Maza is exactly the sort of creative midfielder you scout before everyone else decides he is the next big thing. Dribbling 16, First Touch 15, Technique 16, Flair 17, Agility 16 and Stamina 15 give him a brilliant attacking midfield base.
He can play centrally, carry the ball, receive in tight spaces and still work hard enough to avoid becoming a luxury passenger.
If you are managing a club with Champions League money and want a long-term creator, Maza should stay on your radar even if the first asking price makes you physically ill.
- Scout him for: Elite creative midfield potential
- Best club fit: Champions League clubs, superclub rebuilds, rich Bundesliga and Premier League saves
- FM26 warning: This is not a hidden bargain. It is a hidden elite target before the price goes nuclear.
9. Luka Vuskovic - Hamburger SV
FM26 club: Hamburger SV, on loan from Spurs
Position: D (C)
Value: £37M - £49M
Player type: Dominant young centre-back
Luka Vuskovic is already an FM name, but he still deserves a place here because the World Cup can turn a known wonderkid into an impossible transfer.
In this database, he is at Hamburger SV on loan from Spurs, with a value of £37M - £49M. That loan status matters. You might not be able to buy him cleanly straight away, but you should absolutely track his happiness, development and Spurs pathway.
The profile is exactly what FM managers love in a young centre-back. He is 193 cm, with Heading 16, Jumping Reach 17, Strength 16, Bravery 17, Determination 18 and Work Rate 16.
That is not just a defender. That is a set-piece weapon waiting to happen.
He is not rapid, so you need to think carefully if you play a very aggressive line. But if you want a dominant centre-back who can grow into a top-level leader, Vuskovic is one of the safest long-term defensive targets in FM26.
- Scout him for: Aerial dominance, set-piece threat and long-term defensive leadership
- Best club fit: Spurs saves, Bundesliga clubs, Serie A rebuilds, Premier League clubs planning a defensive core
- FM26 warning: The loan makes timing everything. Watch his contract, squad status and Spurs pathway.
10. Noah Sadiki - Sunderland
FM26 club: Sunderland
Position: DM, M (C)
Value: £42M - £52M
Player type: High-energy ball-winner
Noah Sadiki is the midfield destroyer your squad probably needs, even if your inner romantic wants another number ten.
In this FM26 database, he is at Sunderland and valued at £42M - £52M, so he is not the cheap Union SG bargain some managers might remember from older saves. That is exactly why database context matters.
Still, the attributes are lovely for a hard-working midfield role. Tackling 16, Work Rate 18, Teamwork 15, Stamina 15, Positioning 14 and Marking 14 make him a proper engine-room player.
He is not there to make your squad look glamorous. He is there to stop your midfield from getting bullied.
If your team has enough technical players but keeps losing second balls, Sadiki is the sort of signing that fixes the floor of the side.
- Scout him for: Ball-winning, work rate and midfield security
- Best club fit: Premier League clubs, newly rich projects, Bundesliga sides, teams that need a physical midfield upgrade
- FM26 warning: The value is high, but his role in squad balance is massive.
11. Ismael Saibari - PSV
FM26 club: PSV
Position: M (C), AM (RLC)
Value: £33M - £44M
Player type: Versatile attacking midfielder
Ismael Saibari is a brilliant FM squad-building player because he solves more than one problem.
He can play central midfield, attacking midfield and across the attacking line. That flexibility is not just convenient. It lets you carry one fewer specialist and still survive injuries, rotation and tactical changes.
His profile is nicely rounded: First Touch 15, Technique 15, Vision 15, Flair 17, Teamwork 14, Acceleration 14, Pace 14 and a strong 185 cm frame.
That makes him useful as a creator, carrier or box-arriving attacking midfielder. He has enough size and mobility to feel less fragile than many technical players, which is exactly why he could translate well to stronger leagues.
At £33M - £44M, he is not cheap, but PSV players often sit in that perfect FM market where they are expensive for mid-table clubs and still realistic for ambitious clubs trying to break into the Champions League elite.
- Scout him for: Attacking midfield flexibility and technical quality
- Best club fit: Champions League outsiders, Europa League clubs with money, Premier League mid-table teams, Dutch saves building around him
- FM26 warning: PSV will make you pay, but you are buying three squad roles in one player.
12. Johan Manzambi - Freiburg
FM26 club: Sport-Club Freiburg
Position: DM, M/AM (C)
Value: £49M - £66M
Player type: Complete central midfielder
Johan Manzambi is expensive, but the profile is very FM-friendly.
He can play DM, central midfield and attacking midfield, which already makes him valuable. Add Technique 15, Dribbling 15, Determination 16, Work Rate 16, Natural Fitness 15, Balance 15 and Stamina 14, and you get a midfielder who can cover ground and still offer quality on the ball.
He is not the classic fragile playmaker who needs everyone else to run for him. He looks more like the type of modern midfielder who can carry, press, combine and survive physical leagues.
Freiburg will not make him easy to sign, and his value is already high. But if you are managing a serious club and want a midfielder who can develop into a complete central option, he is worth keeping under constant scout watch.
- Scout him for: Complete midfield development
- Best club fit: Bundesliga top-half clubs, Premier League sides, rich rebuilds, clubs replacing an ageing midfield leader
- FM26 warning: The price is scary, but the position spread is excellent.
13. Martin Baturina - Como
FM26 club: Como
Position: M/AM (C)
Value: £25M - £41M
Player type: Technical creator
Martin Baturina is not new to FM scouts, but this database makes him interesting in a different way.
He is at Como, valued between £25M and £41M, and looks like a perfect creative hub for managers who want more control and final-third quality.
His First Touch 15, Passing 15, Technique 15, Dribbling 16, Balance 17 and Flair 15 give him the base of a proper playmaker. He can receive in tight spaces, keep the ball moving and link midfield to attack.
He is not the player you sign to win foot races all game. You sign him to make better decisions in possession, create overloads and give your midfield more imagination.
If Como struggle in your save, he is one to monitor closely. If they push up the table, the price could get annoying fast.
- Scout him for: Technical chance creation and ball retention
- Best club fit: Serie A clubs, La Liga sides, Europa League-level teams, clubs that need a central creator rather than another runner
- FM26 warning: The Como project could make him harder to prise away.
14. Wesley - AS Roma
FM26 club: AS Roma
Position: D/WB (R)
Value: £53M - £71M
Player type: Elite right-sided wide defender
Wesley is the expensive version of the modern full-back dream.
He is at AS Roma in this FM26 database, valued at £53M - £71M, so this is not a bargain hunt. This is for managers who want a ready-made high-level right-sided defender and have the budget to act.
The attributes make the appeal obvious: Pace 16, Acceleration 15, Dribbling 15, Stamina 17, Natural Fitness 15, Work Rate 14, Teamwork 14 and Tackling 13.
He can get up and down the flank all day, which makes him ideal for clubs that expect their wide defenders to contribute in both halves of the pitch.
His value will scare off most clubs, but if you are managing one of the big boys and need a right-back who can change the entire level of your flank, Wesley is worth scouting.
- Scout him for: Premium right-sided width and athleticism
- Best club fit: Elite Serie A sides, Premier League top-six clubs, Champions League regulars, rich rebuilds needing a first-choice right-back
- FM26 warning: You are paying premium money, but the physical profile is superb.
15. Yan Diomande - RB Leipzig
FM26 club: RB Leipzig
Position: AM (RL)
Value: £87M - £108M
Player type: Elite wide attacker
Yan Diomande is the least “hidden” player in FM26 financial terms, but he still belongs in this article because he is the type of player World Cup scouting can push into absurd territory.
At RB Leipzig, valued between £87M and £108M, he is already a premium asset. Smaller clubs are not touching this deal. But for elite saves, he is one of those young wide players you track because the ceiling is frightening.
Dribbling 17, Acceleration 17, Pace 17, Flair 16, Determination 15 and Natural Fitness 15 give him a devastating base. He can play from either side, attack space and terrify full-backs in transition.
The issue is not talent. The issue is cost.
If you are managing a superclub, Diomande is a future superstar target. If you are managing anyone else, he is a reminder that scouting early matters, because by the time Leipzig have done their development magic, the price is already obscene.
- Scout him for: Elite winger potential
- Best club fit: Superclubs, Champions League giants, state-backed rebuilds, clubs with £100M winger budgets
- FM26 warning: If you can afford him, move before the next reputation jump.
Final Thoughts
This is not a list of 15 cheap players.
That would be misleading.
Some of these FM26 World Cup hidden gems are genuine bargains, like Carrasquilla, Mora, Irankunda and Sidny Lopes Cabral. Others are already expensive, but still worth scouting because they are one tournament, one transfer window or one breakout season away from becoming almost impossible to buy.
That is how Football Manager recruitment works at the top level. The bargain is not always the lowest fee. Sometimes the bargain is buying a £35M player before he becomes a £90M player.
If you are starting a new FM26 save after the World Cup, add these names to your shortlist early. Check their asking prices. Watch their contracts. Look for unhappy status. Track loan moves. And most importantly, do not wait until the AI clubs start circling.
Need a club to build around one of these players? Check out our FM26 Save Ideas Hub for your next long-term career.
If you want to build smarter squads, stop wasting your transfer budget and get better at squad planning in FM26, grab Mastering FM26 or join FM Blog Premium Members for tactics, eBooks, graphics, shortlists and extra tools.
Which World Cup hidden gem are you scouting first in FM26?
