ESPN name most disappointing 2026 World Cup squad, includes Van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes, Kimmich

After the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded, ESPN selected the most disappointing squad of the tournament. Many players who were highly anticipated before the tournament failed to deliver, including Neymar, Bruno Fernandes, Wirtz, and Pulisic, all of whom made the list.

ESPN's Most Disappointing Squad of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Goalkeeper Muslera (Uruguay)

Earlier this year, Muslera ended his international retirement, returned to the Uruguay squad, and participated in his fifth personal FIFA World Cup. However, the 40-year-old veteran failed to perform at the expected level, making 3 direct errors leading to goals conceded in this tournament. In the final group stage match against Spain, he was even substituted before halftime. For Muslera, this FIFA World Cup clearly exceeded his competitive capacity.

Defender Kimmich (Germany)

Although Kimmich only played as a right-back once for Bayern Munich last season, Germany coach Nagelsmann insisted on deploying him in this position, rather than his more familiar defensive midfield role. This tactical arrangement proved ineffective. As the German captain, the 31-year-old Kimmich struggled throughout the tournament, and the four-time FIFA World Cup champions, Germany, also delivered a disappointing overall performance.

Defender Van Dijk (Netherlands)

The Netherlands conceded 5 goals in 4 matches at this FIFA World Cup, and their defensive performance consistently lacked stability. As the team captain and defensive lynchpin, Van Dijk bears considerable responsibility. Furthermore, in the penalty shootout loss to Morocco, several young players voluntarily stepped up to take penalties, while Van Dijk did not, a detail that further amplified external criticism of his performance.

Defender Guehi (England)

Guehi's performance was steady before the crucial matches. However, in the semi-final against Argentina, he showed obvious problems in defensive positioning and ball handling, with too many touches and delayed decision-making. His overall performance was far below external expectations. He failed to step up when England most needed stable defending.

Defender O'Reilly (England)

Although O'Reilly has experience playing as a full-back for Manchester City, he never adapted to this position during the FIFA World Cup. As a player with more midfield attributes, his performance on the wing seemed unnatural. His versatility became a burden, as he was deployed in an unsuitable position and quickly targeted by opponents.

Midfielder Valverde (Uruguay)

Uruguay's overall performance in this FIFA World Cup was sluggish, and it ended with a conflict between coach Bielsa and several players. Among the team, Valverde's performance was particularly disappointing. The Real Madrid midfielder failed to provide the necessary drive and organization for the team, and Uruguay also failed to advance from a group that was not particularly strong.

Midfielder McTominay (Scotland)

Before the FIFA World Cup began, McTominay was considered a potential key player for Scotland. He scored a spectacular overhead kick against Denmark, helping the team qualify. However, in this tournament, McTominay's performance was lackluster, having almost no substantial impact in three matches and failing to maintain his previous good form.

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)

Although Bruno Fernandes has performed exceptionally well at club level, he has consistently failed to bring this form to the national team. Portugal's tactical system is highly centered around Cristiano Ronaldo, which to some extent limited his scope of play. But regardless of the reason, his performance in this FIFA World Cup was still unsatisfactory.

Forward Wirtz (Germany)

The debate about whether Wirtz is overrated intensified after this FIFA World Cup. After a disappointing first season at Liverpool, his performance at the FIFA World Cup also lacked highlights. The 23-year-old will face a crucial season at Anfield next, needing to prove with his performance that he is worth the hefty £116.5 million transfer fee.

Forward Pulisic (USA)

In the US team's opening 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Pulisic performed excellently in the first half but was substituted at halftime due to injury. Even after recovering, he failed to regain his form from the first match. In crucial games, he failed to take on key responsibilities, and his performance significantly declined.

Forward Neymar (Brazil)

The decision to include Neymar in this FIFA World Cup squad raised widespread questions. Considering the 34-year-old's long history of injuries, coach Carlo Ancelotti's decision to still include him in the squad seemed quite risky. Ultimately, Neymar only played 37 minutes in this tournament. His inclusion also directly took a spot from other in-form players, such as Chelsea forward João Pedro, who failed to make the squad. Overall, this personnel selection was considered a clear mistake.

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