FIFA opens voting for 2026 World Cup Best XI; Morocco’s Ismael Saibari sole Arab nominee

FIFA has announced the opening of voting for the 2026 World Cup Best XI, unveiling the list of nominated players for each position and giving fans the chance to select their preferred lineup.

The shortlist features only one Arab player: Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari, who is competing for a spot in the final team selection.

FIFA is allowing voters to choose their preferred tactical formation—either 3-4-3, 4-4-2, or 4-3-3—before selecting the nominated players for each position.

In the goalkeeper category, the list does not include Morocco’s Yassine Bounou or Egypt’s Mostafa Shobeir, despite their impressive performances during the tournament. Instead, the nominees are Spain’s Unai Simón, who won the Best Goalkeeper award and led his team to the title, along with Vozinha (Cape Verde), Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Jordan Pickford (England), and Eloy Room (Curaçao).

In defense, the nominations surprised many by omitting Spain’s Pau Cubarsí, the tournament’s Best Young Player, and Aymeric Laporte, even though Spain conceded only one goal in eight matches.

The nominated defenders are Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero (Argentina), Nuno Mendes (Portugal), Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro (Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil), and Dayot Upamecano (France).

For midfield, the nominees include Jude Bellingham (England), Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé (France), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), as well as Rodri and Lamine Yamal (Spain).

In attack, the candidates are Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Harry Kane (England), Julián Quiñones (Mexico), and Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain).