Early standouts named in 2026 World Cup Player of the Match awards
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with several players already making a big impact. FIFA is recognizing top performers with its Superior Player of the Match award after each game. As of June 14, eight players have received this accolade in the opening round of matches. Notable winners include Folarin Balogun for the USA and VinÃcius Júnior for Brazil.
Match highlights
- As of June 14, eight Superior Player of the Match awards have been handed out.
- Folarin Balogun won the award after scoring twice in USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay.
- VinÃcius Júnior received the honour following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco.
- Other winners include Julian Quiñones, Hwang In-beom, Ismael Koné, John McGinn, Nestory Irankunda, and Mahmoud Abunada.
- Four more matches are scheduled for Sunday, June 14, with more awards to be announced as the tournament progresses.
