- © DFL
- © DFL
Bundesliga stars to watch in FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups H and I
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 turn our attention to Groups H and I, which feature several of the Bundesliga’s biggest names...
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Group H
Spain
Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
- During Leverkusen's title-winning 2023/24 campaign, Grimaldo finished the season as the Bundesliga's top assist provider with 13.
- That same season, Grimaldo was nominated for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award.
- Despite being a superstar at club level, the Spaniard has made only one appearance at a major international tournament, against Albania at UEFA EURO 2024.
Watch: Grimaldo: Leverkusen's beating heart
Grimaldo: Leverkusen's beating heart
Group I
- The 24-year-old represents France at international level despite being born in White City, London.
- Olise was part of the France side that won silver at the 2024 Olympic Games football tournament in Paris. He netted five goals en route to the gold medal match against Spain.
- Last season, he become only the second player since detailed records began in 2004/05 to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single Bundesliga campaign.
Watch: Michael Olise's 2025/26 season in retrospect
Michael Olise's 2025/26 season in retrospect
About the players
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
- The Bayern defender was instrumental in helping France reach the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022. He also played the full 120 minutes in the final against Argentina - which Les Bleus lost on penalties.
- Upamecano has been nominated for the Bundesliga Team of the Season in the past two campaigns (2024/25 and 2025/26).
- Earlier this year, Upamecano extended his contract at Bayern until 2030.
Norway
- Having featured for Norway at every youth level from U16 to U21, Nusa has eight goals in 24 games for the senior side, including two in World Cup qualifying.
- He found the back of the net on his senior debut against Jordan in September 2023, becoming the youngest goalscorer for the country in 63 years.
- After winning two Belgian league titles with Club Brugge, Nusa moved to Leipzig in 2024 and has 10 goals in 71 appearances for the club in all competitions.
- IMAGO/Lise Åserud
Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund)
- Ryerson was second only to Olise in terms of Bundesliga assists in 2025/26, racking up a career-best 15.
- He netted his first and only goal for Norway against Moldova in qualifying for this World Cup, and has 43 caps overall.
- In February 2026, Ryerson became the fourth player since such Bundesliga records began to provide four assists in a single match, doing so as Dortmund defeated Mainz 4-0.
- The goalkeeper has a glowing reputation from the penalty spot, having saved five of the 11 penalties he faced in the Norwegian top flight. He kept out another spot-kick on his Bundesliga debut against Leverkusen in May 2026.
- Tangvik was selected in Norway's World Cup squad despite not yet making his senior international debut, making him the only uncapped player in the 26-man roster.
- He has represented Norway at every youth level from U15 to U21, where he has earned 12 caps to date.
Sander Tangvik saved a penalty from Bayer Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo on his Bundesliga debut in May. - IMAGO/Axel Kohring
Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich)
- Jackson made his senior Senegal debut at the last World Cup, coming on late against the Netherlands in his team's tournament opener.
- On loan at Bayern in 2025/26, he found the back of the net 11 times in 34 games in all competitions.
- Jackson scored and assisted against VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 30 to help secure the Bundesliga title for Bayern.
- IMAGO/Michael Weber IMAGEPOWER
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)
- Ndiaye has just four professional appearances to his name, all of which came in the second half of the 2025/26 season following his January loan switch from Gambinos Stars.
- He made his Senegal debut against the USA in May, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-2 defeat.
- Ndiaye is a product of the Red & Gold Football venture, set up between Bayern, Los Angeles FC and Gambinos Stars in 2023.
Click here for the full list of Bundesliga/ Bundesliga 2 players at the World Cup
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