Sons of Football Legends to Shine at 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will see sons of football legends follow in their fathers' footsteps. Players like Erling Haaland, Luca Zidane, and Giuliano Simeone will carry family legacies and national hopes. This tournament offers a new generation the chance to create their own World Cup stories.

As the FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams and heads to North America in 2026, several players carrying some of football's most famous surnames will be hoping to write their own chapters on the sport's biggest stage.

A total of 27 father-son combinations have featured in World Cup history. That number is set to grow when the tournament kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a new generation of footballers following paths once blazed by their fathers.

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Some arrive with the weight of legendary family names, while others are seeking to carve out identities of their own. From Erling Haaland and Luca Zidane to Francisco Conceicao and Giuliano Simeone, these players will carry both national expectations and family legacies into the tournament.

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Sebastian Berhalter (United States)

Sebastian Berhalter's World Cup journey mirrors that of his father Gregg, who represented the United States at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Gregg was part of the American side that reached the quarter-finals in 2002, one of the country's finest performances on the global stage.

The younger Berhalter broke into the national team last year, scoring in a 5-1 victory over Uruguay. Strong performances for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer helped cement his place in the U.S. squad for the home World Cup.

Francisco Conceicao (Portugal)

Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao has already shown a knack for delivering on the biggest occasions. He scored the winner against Czechia in Portugal's opening match at Euro 2024 and was also on target against Germany in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.

His father, Sergio Conceicao, represented Portugal at the 2002 World Cup, and the family name remains synonymous with Portuguese football.

Lee Taeseok (South Korea)

South Korea defender Lee Taeseok follows in the footsteps of his father Lee Eul-yong, a member of the country's historic 2002 World Cup squad that reached the semi-finals on home soil.

The elder Lee scored in South Korea's third-place playoff defeat to Turkey, while Taeseok has emerged as one of the country's promising defenders, earning recognition through his performances at both club and international level.

Angus Gunn (Scotland)

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn inherited international pedigree from his father Bryan Gunn, who was part of Scotland's 1990 World Cup squad.

Having represented England at youth level before switching allegiance, Angus has become Scotland's first-choice goalkeeper. Despite an injury-interrupted season, he remains a key figure as Scotland prepares for another World Cup campaign.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Few sons have eclipsed their fathers quite as dramatically as Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker is already one of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation, while his father Alfie Haaland represented Norway at the 1994 World Cup. Norway's return to football's biggest stage gives Erling the opportunity to add a World Cup chapter to a career already packed with records and trophies.

Justin Kluivert (Netherlands)

Justin Kluivert carries one of Dutch football's most recognisable surnames.

His father Patrick Kluivert starred for the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup, scoring crucial goals as the Dutch reached the semi-finals. Justin earned his place in the national squad after an impressive season with Bournemouth and will be hoping to make his own mark on the tournament.

Giuliano Simeone (Argentina)

The son of Argentina great Diego Simeone, Giuliano has steadily emerged from his father's shadow.

Diego represented Argentina at three World Cups and was a central figure in some of the tournament's most memorable moments, including the dramatic 1998 clash with England that saw David Beckham sent off.

Now 22, Giuliano is a regular for Atletico Madrid under his father and has become an increasingly important member of Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad.

Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway)

Norway midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt helped secure qualification with a memorable victory over Italy and now has the chance to emulate his father Erik Thorstvedt.

The former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper represented Norway at the 1994 World Cup, where the Scandinavian nation suffered an unfortunate group-stage exit despite finishing level on points with the other teams in their group.

Luca Zidane (Algeria)

Luca Zidane may carry perhaps the most famous surname on this list.

The son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, who inspired Les Bleus to World Cup glory in 1998, Luca initially represented France at youth level before switching international allegiance to Algeria.

A goalkeeper by trade, he made his senior debut for Algeria in 2024 and could now become part of another chapter in one of football's most celebrated family stories.

For all these players, the World Cup presents a unique challenge. Their fathers have already left their mark on football history. The task now is not merely to honour those legacies, but to create their own.