It has been a summer of breakthrough stars at Euro 2024, with Spain‘s Lamine Yamal (16), England‘s Kobbie Mainoo (19) and Germany‘s Jamal Musiala (21) all offering a glimpse of the new wave of talent that could dominate the stage at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
But while the new kids on the block are showing that the future of the game is in good health, football’s old guard have also made headlines — and many of them show no sign of calling it a day.
How many will still be around in 2026? Some will be desperate to go out on a high at the World Cup, while others will draw a line under their international career after accepting that two more years is two years too many.
So which Euro 2024 veterans will continue and which ones will be unable to make it? ESPN has assessed the 2026 prospects of some of the biggest (old) names in the game.
After the 2022 World…
