World Cup 2026: Five strikers looking to lead the line for their country

In the build-up to the 2026 World Cup hosted across North America, nations are assessing their options as to who will lead the front line for their country, some for the first time.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Stan Cheeseman identifies five players striving to highlight themselves as the starting man for the duration of their country’s tenure in the competition, commencing 11th June 2026.

5: Breel Embolo (Switzerland)

Stade Rennais striker Breel Embolo has been a mainstay in the Swiss national team - and for good reason.

The 29-year-old has remained a success playing in the red and white over an 11-year period after making his debut at 18, a year after receiving his Swiss citizenship, playing for FC Basel, where he became a three-time consecutive Swiss Super League title winner.

Continuing his national career, Embolo was named in the Euro 2016 squad as the youngest recruit to make it onto the plane.

He was gradually blended into the starting 11, starting one game and being used as a substitute on three occasions, including a 0-0 draw with a star-studded French side.

Often marginalised to a wide role, he showcased a natural versatility despite his young age.

In recent form, Embolo has managed seven goals in his last 10 and a vital brace in the World Cup qualifying games against Group B runner-ups Kosovo to kick start a total of four across the six group stage games, which secured automatic qualification for his country. 

At the Euro 2024, he played a role in Switzerland’s triumph to the quarter-final stages with his patriotic performances, losing on penalties against a tournament favourite in England.

His Herculean efforts throughout the match put Switzerland a goal up in the 75th minute, shortly before a wonderful  Bukayo Saka strike balanced the scoreline to 1-1.

They went on to lose on penalties, which Embolo was not able to impact due to his departure from the field in the 109th minute of extra time, being replaced with the reliable Xherdan Shaqiri.

Now the main man for the Swiss, Embolo has scope to progress in the all-time scorers charts, where he currently sits joint ninth with a sum of 22.

If Switzerland can maximise their performances, which they often do by reaching the knockout stages, Embolo may just grab the three required to match the 25 of Haris Seferovic.

4: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)

At the expense of the world-class Harry Kane, Nicolas Jackson has suffered from little playing time during a loan spell at Bayern Munich this season.

However, in the 24 appearances - 15 as a substitute - Senegal’s striker has managed 11 goal contributions in the 821 minutes played (or a contribution roughly every 74 minutes).

With four goals and two assists coming in his nine starts, Jackson has grasped the opportunity to flaunt his ability when presented to him.

Since his breakout season playing for Villareal in the 2023/23 La Liga campaign, Jackson was thrown into the deep end on the international stage, where he earned his debut in the nation's opening fixture of the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands as a 73rd minute substitute. 

He has now made an additional 27 appearances for Senegal, including five in the Africa Cup of Nations, where he found the net twice and assisted once to propel ‘The Lions of Teranga’ to their second AFCON trophy, coming in back-to-back tournaments.

Jackson’s name has been floated around the football world for years as a rising star, giving the impression to expectant fans that his success would come instantly.

After heavy criticism, Jackson began removing impurities from his game and, in doing so, has experienced winning international competitions such as the AFCON, Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League.

Alongside playing in three of Europe’s top five leagues and soon only turning 25, Jackson has an acquaintance with playing teams of varying internationalities - and winning. 

As potential dark horses going into the biggest footballing event in the world, the Senegalese squad are required to compete with the likes of France and Norway in Group I of the World Cup.

Nicolas Jackson may be relied upon to spoil the hopes of the two European teams in what many consider the battle as the ‘group of death’.

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3: Omar Marmoush (Egypt)

Omar Marmoush’s first feature in the senior team came in October 2021, where his debut in an Egyptian shirt was fruitful as he relished in 77 minutes of playing time, starting and scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Libya in the World Cup qualifying games.

During a downswing period at Manchester City, Omar Marmoush has had to watch from the sidelines, unable to pave a way into Pep’s clear-cut system.

Often replacing Haaland or team-mates in wide positions, Marmoush has only been able to bank roughly 570 minutes in the Premier League this season, scoring one and providing three inside the sparse playing time.

Still, his undeniable quality leaves Egyptian boss Hossam Hassan no choice but to include him in the first eleven when July rolls around.

In Egypt’s opening fixture of the 2025 AFCON tournament, against Matchweek 1 opponents Zimbabwe, Marmoush registered the country’s first goal with a smashing strike into the roof of the net after running off the defender's shoulder with his explosive pace - a valuable trait in which Egypt will further look to utilise - in the 64th minute to draw the scoreline level to 1-1.

Premier League rival Mo Salah went on to grab a late winner for The Pharaohs.

His second of the tournament came within the first four minutes, opening the floodgates to a five-goal thriller against the reigning champions, the Ivory Coast, in the quarter-final, ending 3-2.

Historically, Egypt have dominated African football, having won the AFCON on seven occasions.

However, at the World Cup, they have been nothing short of poor and have faced heavy criticism as a result.

They have appeared in three World Cups: in 1934, 1990 and most recently, 2018. However, they have failed to record a single win across multiple spells.

With the help of superstars Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah, Egypt will be looking to settle unfinished business within the tournament, which has proved daunting in the past.

2: Nick Woltemade (Germany)

At 24 years old, Nick Woltemade has yet to make a World Cup appearance for Germany; however, he has proven reliable in front of goal for both club and country. 

Representing Germany throughout the Euro U21 2025 campaign, the forward tallied six goals and three assists during their six-game run to the final, scoring in both the semi-final and quarter-finals.

Woltemade’s efforts were not enough, as his side was defeated by Lee Carsley’s young lions at the final hurdle.

The German giant has earned himself regular call-ups to the senior national team, most recently in the World Cup Qualification games.

Again, he provided his team with a wealth of goals, scoring four and assisting one, which saw Germany top the Group A table and earn them automatic qualification for the upcoming tournament.

At 6’6”, he offers numerous dynamics of play thanks to his aerial superiority and strikingly tidy technical ability.

With a varying arsenal of finishes in his locker, he carries a sense of unpredictable certainty where opposition won’t exactly know how the goals will come, but are certain they will.

For years, there has been a real lack of top-level strikers within the German squad, with Timo Werner and two makeshift midfielders, Kai Havertz and Thomas Müller, being named as the focal point over the years.

The emergence of Nick Woltemade, although versatile, may finally be the key to remapping the country to success after failing to reach a final of a major tournament since their historic World Cup victory in 2014.

Hoping to bring Germany back to glory, Woltemade is tipped to spearhead the German attack in what would be his debut World Cup campaign, especially with competition in the likes of Kai Havertz being sidelined for a large portion of the season with multiple injuries.

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1: Alexander Sorloth (Norway)

Making his debut for Norway in a 2016 friendly match, losing 3-0 against Portugal, Alexander Sorthoth has never been granted an opportunity to print his name into World Cup history due to their 26 years of absence from any major tournament - their most recent feature being UEFA EURO 2000. 

He has, however, represented the sleeping giants in past qualifying rounds of the Euro and World Cup competitions since 2018, scoring 14.

The Atletico Madrid star has repeatedly appeared in the UEFA Nations League, playing in the 4 most recent editions, finding the net seven times.

Scoring 26 and contributing 13 assists across 68 games played, Sorloth has adapted to collaborate with superstar team-mate Erling Haaland in attack, going under the radar as an elite forward himself and sacrificing individual benefit to facilitate the wider success of his nation.

Maintaining his fine form with a steady flow of goals alongside Haaland will be integral to Norway’s success, and they will certainly aim to keep the strike partnership firing going into the 2026 World Cup.

In Norway's recent history-making WC Qualifying rounds, Sorloth was a prominent factor in the team's success, scoring five in eight to help propel them into Group I.

This is reflective of his consistent club form, bagging 16 goals this season, including five in Atletico’s ongoing Champions League series and 10 in La Liga, where they sit third best in the Spanish division.

Nearing the end of his prime years - 30 - Alexander Sorloth has patiently been waiting for his opportunity to shine on the biggest stage. He will carry his expertise into the dressing room to gear Norway’s golden generation ready for America, where the team’s group stage games will be hosted.

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