Father-Son Duos in FIFA World Cup: The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to bring a special moment for many young footballers. This edition is likely to witness the debut of several players whose fathers have previously represented their nations on the World Cup stage. In the history of the FIFA World Cup, 27 father-son pairs have played in this prestigious competition, and that legacy looks set to continue in 2026.

Francisco Conceição (Portugal)

Portuguese winger Francisco Conceição is widely known for his pace and skillful dribbling. His father, Sérgio Conceição, donned the Portugal jersey in the 2002 World Cup. Now, Francisco is poised to continue that proud family legacy at the global level.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, one of the most prominent goal scorers in world football, will be a key attraction for Norway at the 2026 World Cup. His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was part of the Norway squad during the 1994 World Cup.

Sebastian Berhalter (USA)

Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter has been making steady progress with the United States national team in recent years. His father, Gregg Berhalter, represented the USA in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and later went on to manage the national team.

Justin Kluivert (Netherlands)

Patrick Kluivert, father of Dutch forward Justin Kluivert, was one of the standout stars for the Netherlands during the 1998 World Cup. Now, Justin is ready to create his own impact on the world stage, continuing the Kluivert family tradition.

Angus Gunn (Scotland)

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn has established himself as a dependable presence for Scotland. His father, Bryan Gunn, represented the Scottish national team in the 1990 World Cup, and Angus now continues that goalkeeping heritage.

Christian Thorstvedt (Norway)

Norwegian midfielder Christian Thorstvedt is following in the footsteps of his father, Erik Thorstvedt, who was the national team’s goalkeeper during the 1994 World Cup. Christian has become an important part of Norway’s current squad.

Juliano Simeone (Argentina)

Argentine youngster Juliano Simeone is the son of Diego Simeone, who featured in three World Cups and captained Argentina in 1998. Juliano now looks to make his own mark as he carries forward his father’s winning mentality and leadership on the pitch.

Lee Tae-seok (South Korea)

South Korean defender Lee Tae-seok is another player continuing a proud football lineage. His father, Lee Eul-yong, took part in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Tae-seok is now seen as one of the country’s promising young talents with a bright future ahead.

Luca Zidane (Algeria)

Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, is aiming to uphold his father’s celebrated legacy. Zinedine Zidane famously led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup. Luca has now been selected for the Algeria national team and could write a new chapter in his family’s football story at the 2026 World Cup.

The enduring legacy of footballing families will once again shine bright in the FIFA World Cup 2026, as these nine players step forward to honour and extend the sporting heritage of their fathers.