- © DFL
- © DFL
Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stars to watch in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D
A host of stars from Germany’s top two leagues are set to meet on football's biggest stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026. We crunch the numbers on the likes of Jackson Irvine, Malik Tillman and Can Uzun, who are set to battle it out in Group D...
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Australia
- Across 80 international caps, Irvine has scored an impressive 14 goals. The Pauli skipper is appearing at his third World Cup, having represented the Socceroos at the 2018 tournament in Russia, and in Qatar in 2022.
- Through his father, Irvine was also eligible to represent Scotland at international level and even made three appearances for the Tartan Army's U19 team before declaring for Australia.
- The tireless midfielder has made 153 appearances in all competitions for Pauli, leading the club to only their sixth-ever promotion to the Bundesliga in 2023/24.
Watch: Jackson Irvine in 'Road to the Americas'
Episode 3: Road To The Americas
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Connor Metcalfe (St. Pauli)
- A graduate of Melbourne City's academy, Metcalfe was named in the A-League Team of the Season in 2020/21. He also awarded the PFA Harry Kewell Medal, given to the A-League's Young Footballer of the Year.
- Metcalfe has amassed 103 appearances in all competitions for Die Kiezkicker. Known for his versatility, he has been deployed in every position across the midfield.
- The 26-year-old has 35 senior international caps and scored his only goal for Australia in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in June 2025.
Paraguay
No active Bundesliga representatives
Türkiye
- Kabak is a prolific goalscorer for a defender, having netted 16 goals in 138 Bundesliga outings across spells for Stuttgart, Schalke and Hoffenheim.
- A powerhouse in the air, Kabak won 140 aerial duels for the Sinsheimers in 2025/26 - the most at the club and seventh-most in the league.
- After suffering an ACL tear on international duty in June 2024, Kabak's recovery took a total of 502 days before the centre-back made his comeback on Matchday 7 of last season. A stellar campaign followed, earning the Hoffenheim stalwart a return to the Türkiye squad.
Ozan Kabak (c.) has two goals in 29 senior appearances for Türkiye. - IMAGO/Seskimphoto
About the players
Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- In September 2025, Uzun became the first teenager in Bundesliga history to score in each of his team's first five matches at the start of a campaign.
- Before breaking through at Nuremberg, Uzun managed a staggering 47 goals in 43 matches for the Franconians' U17 and U19 sides.
- He finished joint-fifth top scorer in his breakout Bundesliga 2 campaign in 2023/24, registering 16 goals in 30 appearances.
Watch: U-zun bet he Can!
Watch: U-zun bet he Can!
USA
Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- Reyna netted his first goal for former club Borussia Dortmund in a third-round DFB Cup tie in February 2020. Aged 17 years, two months and 22 days, he is Die Schwarzgelben’s fourth-youngest goalscorer of all time.
- In August 2021, he overtook Kai Havertz to become the youngest-ever player to reach 50 appearances in Germany’s top flight. He now ranks fourth in that particular category.
- Reyna claimed his sole piece of silverware at club level during his time at Dortmund, winning the DFB Cup in 2021.
Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- Scally, 23, became the youngest non-German player ever to reach 150 Bundesliga appearances in April 2026.
- He was the youngest member of the USMNT squad to travel to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, though the 19-year-old did not make an appearance at the tournament.
- He has since made 25 senior caps and has won the CONCACAF Nations League twice, in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Joe Scally has won 25 senior caps for the USA, winning the Concacaf Nations League twice. - TIMOTHY A. CLARY
Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Before joining Die Werkself in July 2025, Tillman won back-to-back Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven, contributing nine goals in 2023/24 and 12 goals the following term.
- Tillman won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award during a loan spell at Rangers from Bayern Munich in 2022/23.
- The American registered eight goals and one assist in all competitions in 2025/26.
Watch: Malik Tillman reacts to USA's World Cup draw
Malik Tillman reacts to USA's World Cup draw
>>> Click here for the full list of Bundesliga/ Bundesliga 2 players at the World Cup
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