Three Serie A Players to Watch at the World Cup | OneFootball

The World Cup is finally here, and for Italian supporters, the tournament will be bittersweet. On the one hand, the showpiece is a festival of football, the beautiful game’s biggest party. On the other hand, it’s a party that Italy have not been invited to for the third straight edition. In fact, 2026 marks 12 long years since the four-time champions last ventured out onto this storied stage, and by the time the 2030 spectacle rolls around, that drought will have extended into its 16th year.

We all remember how the journey ended. Gennaro Gattuso’s Azzurri were seemingly cruising in their qualifying playoff final against Bosnia, with Moise Kean’s early strike setting them well on their way to finally securing their World Cup return. Then, Alessandro Bastoni was sent off, the Bosnians equalised with ten minutes remaining through Haris Tabakovic, and giant goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was unable to provide his usual penalty shootout heroics.

But while Italy aren’t headed to North America, several Serie A’s biggest names certainly are. Which of them should fans of the league be keeping an eye on this summer? Let’s take a look.

Christian Pulisic – USA

GENOA, ITALY – MAY 17: Christian Pulisic of Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 17, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Are there any players featuring at this summer’s World Cup under more pressure to deliver than Christian Pulisic? If there are, it’s a short list. The AC Milan winger has been anointed as “Captain America,” with some of the notoriously overexpectant American sports media genuinely believing that he is the “LeBron James of soccer.” In Europe, we know that is most certainly not the case, but he remains the most talented player in a USMNT side that will be hosting the vast majority of this summer’s tournament.

Online betting sites make the Americans the most likely out of the three co-hosts to mount a deep run this summer. The popular 5Gringos online sportsbook makes them a 66/1 shot to win the tournament, and while that will almost certainly not happen, Pulisic has to somehow lead his side to the quarterfinals in order for the millions of Americans attending the tournament to consider the World Cup somewhat of a success.

How Pulisic will do this, only he knows. He has just endured a miserable second half of the season at the San Siro, in which he hasn’t managed a single goal for the Rossoneri since the turn of the year. His downturn in form saw Milan drop from second in the table and in genuine Scudetto contention all the way down to fifth, missing out on Champions League qualification. However, draped in the American flag, it looks as if his form is returning at the perfect time.

Pulisic provided a goal and an assist in the recent 3-2 friendly win against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, the site of the final on July 19th. He will need to continue in a similar vein if the hosts are to enjoy success this summer. If he doesn’t, he could well be vilified in the American press, just as he has been in Milan.

Manu Koné – France

ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: Manu Kone of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Olimpico on October 29, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

When one thinks of second-favourites France, they think of the mercurial Kylian Mbappe and reigning Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele. They don’t, however, think of Roma central midfielder Manu Koné, but the 25-year-old will have a crucial role to play in the heart of the French midfield this summer.

The Giallorossi has emerged as a crucial cog for Didier Deschamps over the last two years, especially with the downturn in form for Real Madrid man Eduardo Camavinga, who was supposed to star in this midfield for the next two years to come. However, he is out, and Koné is in, and he could well have a major role to play this summer.

Koné started four of France’s six World Cup qualifiers, much to the surprise of many, but he didn’t for a moment look out of place. His tenacious displays in the centre of the park allowed both Mbappe and Dembele to thrive ahead of him, and he is expected to start alongside Aurelien Tchouameni for Les Bleus’ opener against Senegal on June 16th. If Deschamps’ side is to reach a record-equalling third straight final, then their Roma star will likely be doing much of the unseen work in midfield, allowing those around him to steal the show.

Luka Modrić – Croatia

Four men who made their World Cup bow in 2006 will feature at this summer’s showdown, 20 years later. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of them, while legendary Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is another. The fourth is veteran Croatian and AC Milan midfielder Luka Modrić.

The 40-year-old has shone on this stage in recent years. Back in 2018, he won the Golden Ball award as he helped the Vatreni shock the world by reaching the final. In Qatar four years later, Modric’s influence was in full effect once again, with the then-36-year-old playing 666 out of a possible 690 minutes as Croatia claimed the bronze medal, beating favourites Brazil along the way.

Now, at the ripe old age of 40, he will be aiming to do the same again in what will likely be his last ever trip to the World Cup. Can he captain Croatia to another almighty underdog run? If the last two tournaments are anything to go by, we wouldn’t put it past him.