8 brothers, 4 families, 7 nations: FIFA World Cup 2026 set for rare family twist
New structure and expanded slots redefine football’s biggest stage
DUBAI – The FIFA World Cup 2026 will bring together 48 nations and hundreds of elite footballers, but one of the tournament's most fascinating storylines centres on just eight players.
Four sets of brothers are preparing to represent different countries at the finals, creating a rare family dynamic on football's grandest stage. Spread across seven national teams, the siblings will pursue the same dream of World Cup success while wearing different colours and competing under different flags.
The unique group includes some of football's most recognisable names. French star Désiré Doué and his older brother Guéla Doué will represent France and Ivory Coast respectively, while Spain winger Nico Williams and elder brother Iñaki Williams are set to feature for Spain and Ghana.
Another notable pairing features Australia's Harry Souttar and Scotland's John Souttar, whose international careers have taken them to different national teams despite their shared roots.
Reports indicate that none of the brother pairings are expected to meet during the group stage, although later knockout rounds could potentially produce family rivalries on the pitch.
Such stories remain uncommon in World Cup history. The most famous example involved half-brothers Jérôme Boateng of Germany and Kevin-Prince Boateng of Ghana, who faced each other at both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.