WC 2026 Fantasy Final Team for MD1

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Captain to change daily

VC is Bruno Fernandes.

WC 2026 Fantasy #15 Draft

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Footfant #15 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is F Mbappe from France.

Why we choose him?

1. Mbappé has 12 goals in just 14 World Cup matches . Let me put that in perspective:

Player	World Cup Goals
Kylian Mbappé	12 (in 2 tournaments)
Lionel Messi	13 (in 5 tournaments)
Cristiano Ronaldo	8 (in 5 tournaments)

He's only 4 goals behind Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 . At 27 years old, he could break it at this very tournament. 

2. Mbappé has scored 4 goals in World Cup finals - more than any player in history .

• 2018 final (vs Croatia): 1 goal

• 2022 final (vs Argentina): HAT-TRICK (first player since 1966)

If France reaches the final again, Mbappé has shown he delivers on the biggest stage.

3. Despite Real Madrid having "a disappointing season," Mbappé still delivered :

Competition	Goals
La Liga	31 goals
Champions League	15 goals (record for new format)
TOTAL	42 goals in 44 matches

That's nearly a goal-per-game across an entire season.

WC 2026 Fantasy #14 Draft

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Footfant #14 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is F Haaland from Norway.

Why we choose him?

1. He is statistically the most lethal goalscorer in world football right now

• 55 goals in 50 caps for Norway — that's a goal every single game at international level 

• 23 international goals in the last 2 years — more than ANY other player in this market, including Mbappé 

• At +1400 to +1750 odds for the Golden Boot, bookmakers list him as a top contender alongside Mbappé and Kane

2. His 2025/26 club season was massive

• 27 goals in 35 Premier League matches for Manchester City 

• 54 goals in 61 matches across ALL competitions this season 

• 15 goals at home + 12 goals away — scores everywhere

3. He has the perfect Matchday 1 fixture

• Norway faces Iraq in MD1 (June 16, 6 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium) 

• Iraq are one of the weakest teams in the tournament — expected to finish 4th in Group I

• This is exactly the kind of "get-right" fixture where Haaland could score 2 or 3 goals

WC 2026 Fantasy #13 Draft

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Footfant #13 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is F Oyarzabal from Spain.

Why we choose him?

1. He is Spain's Primary Goal Scorer

• Top scorer in qualifying with 6 goals (tied with Mikel Merino) 

• Spain scored 21 goals in qualifying and conceded only 2 — elite attacking team 

• 24 goals in 52 caps for Spain — a goal every other game at international level 

2. He is the #1 Projected Fantasy Scorer for Matchday 1

• Ranked #3 overall among all players in official fantasy rankings — that's higher than Bruno Fernandes and most forwards 

• Projected 8.80 points for MD1 vs Cape Verde — the highest among all forwards 

• Called "the best mix of upside and price on the slate" by fantasy analysts

3. Spain Have the Easiest MD1 Fixture

• Spain face Cape Verde (World Cup debutants) in their opening match 

• Cape Verde are making their first-ever World Cup appearance — massive mismatch

• Spain are expected to score 3+ goals, and Oyarzabal is the man leading the line

4. He is Incredibly Affordable

• Priced at only **$8.1m** — significantly cheaper than Mbappé, Haaland, or Kane (all $10.5m) 

• At that price, he frees up budget for other premium players

• He scores like a premium forward but costs like a mid-range one

WC 2026 Fantasy #12 Draft

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Footfant #12 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is MF Fernandes from Portugal.

Why we choose him?

1. Portugal have the EASIEST group-stage fixtures

• They face DR Congo (ranked 45th) and Uzbekistan (ranked 50th) in their first two matches 

• Both are significantly weaker opponents, meaning Portugal are expected to score 3+ goals in each game

• More goals = more chances for Fernandes to get assists and goals

2. Reliability: He NEVER gets rested or rotated

• Fernandes is the definition of "nailed-on" – he plays every minute of every match when fit 

• When you spend $8.5m on a player, you need certainty he'll play. Fernandes guarantees that.

• For comparison, many premium attackers get rotated in easy fixtures – not Bruno

 3. He takes corners, free kicks, and (probably) penalties

• Fernandes is Portugal's designated set-piece taker for corners and free kicks 

• The only slight doubt is penalties – Cristiano Ronaldo ($10.0m) may take them instead 

• Even without penalties, his chance creation alone makes him elite value

WC 2026 Fantasy #11 Draft

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Footfant #11 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is MF Diaz from Colombia.

Why we choose him?

1. He is Colombia's Undisputed Attacking King

Díaz is the focal point of Colombia's attack. He has 7 goal involvements in 10 qualifiers  and is supported by creator James Rodríguez ($6.5m) feeding him the ball .

2. He Has the Best Possible MD1 Fixture

Colombia faces Uzbekistan (World Cup debutants) in Matchday 1 . This is a "get-right" fixture where Colombia is heavily favored to score multiple goals.

3. He is in Incredible Form

• Scored a stunning solo goal against Argentina in Buenos Aires, dribbling past four defenders .

• Was called "almost unstoppable" by Colombian media after scoring against Chile .

• Named one of the top 10 favorites for the Golden Boot at the World Cup .

4. He Offers Multiple Routes to Points

As a winger, Díaz gets you points for:

• Goals (6 points for midfielders)

• Assists (3 points)

• Successful dribbles (elite numbers at 2.7 per game) 

• Clean sheet bonus (if Colombia keeps a clean sheet)

WC 2026 Fantasy #10 Draft

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Footfant #10 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is MF Merino from Spain.

Why we choose him?

1. He is a Statistical Powerhouse (The "Top Scorer" Pedigree)

This is the main reason people are willing to take the risk. Even after a long injury, managers remember his incredible numbers.

• He is Spain's joint-top scorer in qualifying with 6 non-penalty goals (tied with Oyarzabal).

• He has an incredible goal-scoring record for Spain, having scored 10 goals under manager Luis de la Fuente, second only to Oyarzabal .

• The Verdict: In a "Top Scorers" strategy, ignoring him entirely feels wrong when he is on the teamsheet.

2. He is Fit and in the Squad (The Status Update)

The news has shifted from "out" to "available."

• Included in World Cup Squad: Despite the injury, Spain has shown immense faith in him, officially naming him to the 26-man roster .

• Returned to the Pitch: He made his comeback in Spain's warm-up match against Iraq, playing the final 25+ minutes . The injury is no longer keeping him off the field.

3. He is a Proven "Big Game" Performer

Merino has a habit of delivering massive fantasy points when he plays.

• In the Champions League this season, he scored a brace (2 goals) in a crucial match against Real Madrid.

• Historically, when used as a forward or attacking midfielder, he has posted elite numbers for shots in the box and expected goals .

• The Verdict: He has a habit of showing up when it matters most.

WC 2026 Fantasy #9 Draft

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Footfant #9 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is MF Wirtz from Germany.

Why we choose him?

1. He is a Proven Elite Creator (The Underlying Data)

While his first season at Liverpool didn't set the world on fire, his numbers for Bayer Leverkusen were nothing short of world-class. Across his final two Bundesliga seasons, he racked up 21 goals and 23 assists .

To put that in fantasy terms, he was creating a chance every 41 minutes . That's the kind of creative output that leads to big fantasy hauls, especially against weaker opponents.

2. The Fixture is Perfect (Germany vs. Curaçao)

This is the biggest reason for his popularity. Germany faces Curaçao, one of the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament, in their opening match .

In games like this, Germany will dominate possession and create a ton of chances. Wirtz, as the team's primary playmaker, is expected to be at the heart of it all . This is the exact kind of fixture where creative midfielders rack up assists and bonus points.

3. He is in Red-Hot International Form

Forget his Liverpool struggles for a moment. When Wirtz pulls on a Germany shirt, he has been electric. In his last three appearances for his country, he has recorded 3 goals and 2 assists . He is seen as a "key man" for Germany and a crucial part of their young attack heading into the World Cup .

WC 2026 Fantasy #8 Draft

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Footfant #8 Draft for Fifa WC 2026 Fantasy is MF Xhaka from Switzerland.

Why we choose him?

The main appeal of Xhaka isn't about scoring a hat-trick; it's about guaranteed involvement. Here is the breakdown of his role and the data behind it.

1. Switzerland's Engine & Captain

You can't question his importance to the team. Xhaka is the "personification of Switzerland: sturdy, dependable, and precise" and is the team's captain . He will be taking part in his fourth successive World Cup at age 33 and still "pulls the strings for the Swiss" . He is a guaranteed starter, which is the most important asset in fantasy.

2. Multiple Routes to Points (The "Floor" Argument)

Xhaka's primary value in this format comes from a unique scoring rule: midfielders earn 1 fantasy point for every 3 tackles they make . As a deep-lying playmaker, he racks up tackles consistently.

Additionally, he is on penalty duty for Switzerland . This gives him a solid chance at a 6-point goal even when playing defensively.

3. Solid Matchday 1 Clean Sheet Odds

Switzerland faces Qatar in MD1. The Clean Sheet odds for Switzerland are 57.9% , meaning they are highly likely to shut out Qatar . As a midfielder, Xhaka doesn't directly get clean sheet points, but a strong defensive performance means more possession and more opportunities for him to control the game.