Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz carry Bayern Munich form into FIFA World Cup 2026
Harry Kane and Luis Díaz both on the scoresheet? Michael Olise notching another assist?
Matchday 1 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, it seems, was just another day at the office for Bayern Munich’s formidable front three, who appear to be carrying their club form onto the biggest international stage of them all this summer.
The trio’s exploits in their countries’ opening group games will come as no surprise to fans who watched them rack up an eye-watering 165 goal contributions at club level in 2025/26. But for those less fortunate, this was an opportunity to witness Kane, Olise and Díaz showcase their preternatural talent at first hand.
And they certainly weren’t left disappointed.
Olise was first to take to the podium on Tuesday as France faced Senegal in Group I. After a goalless first half in New Jersey, the Bayern winger broke the Lions of Teranga's resistance with a superb assist for Kylian Mbappé’s opener, laying the foundations for an eventual 3-1 victory for Didier Deschamps’ side.
Two-time winners France had struggled against the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finalists before the interval, but a tactical switch involving Olise and Paris St-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé - who started the match on the right wing - provided the catalyst for their improved second-half showing.
“Michael can play on both wings, but the more he gets the ball, the better,” Deschamps said of the former Crystal Palace man, who was making his first appearance at a World Cup finals. “We were a lot better when Michael was positioned in the middle. I thought it would provide more of a link [between Olise and Mbappé].”
Twenty-four hours later, it was Kane’s turn to shine. The England captain fired his side into an early lead from the penalty spot against Croatia before doubling his personal tally late in the first half. Only some last-ditch defending prevented the 32-year-old from completing his hat-trick in the Three Lions’ 4-2 win in Dallas.
England boss Thomas Tuchel - the man who brought Kane to Bavaria in 2023 - was effusive in his praise of the frontman, who was also putting his body on the line at the other end of the pitch.
“If you see the commitment of our captain, of our number nine, in stoppage time to block a crucial shot after a set piece […] then you know everything about his performance today,” said Tuchel. “[It was] a complete performance. He’s an absolute leader. He’s all in physically and he’s all in mentally.”
Not to be outdone by his Bayern colleagues, Díaz set up Daniel Muñoz’s opener for Colombia against Uzbekistan before scoring Los Cafeteros’ second goal in Thursday’s 3-1 win in Mexico City. The 29-year-old had almost broken the deadlock himself before half-time, only to be denied by the inside of the post.
Colombia’s failure to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar meant Díaz was making his first World Cup appearance at the Estadio Azteca, but the biggest stage tends to bring out the best in the fleet-footed winger.
“Today, I’m living out my childhood dream,” a delighted Díaz said afterwards. “What could be more beautiful than contributing with a goal and an assist? I’m just very, very happy.”
Díaz’s effort was the 83rd World Cup goal by a Bayern player since the tournament’s inception in 1930 - not even the likes of Real Madrid (79) and Barcelona (77) can match that total after the first round of fixtures at this summer’s showpiece.
Bayern are also the early pace-setters in the 2026 Player of the Match rankings, after Olise, Kane and Díaz all claimed the award on Matchday 1.
The trio have set an exceptionally high bar ahead of their remaining games in Canada, Mexico and the USA - but it is a bar they are capable of raising even further in the coming weeks.
