World Cup 2026: Eight sets of brothers reunited on football's grandest stage

World Cup 2026 Today at 14:51

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

The 2026 World Cup will not only showcase the biggest stars in world football—it will also shine a spotlight on several remarkable family stories, as eight pairs of brothers feature among the qualified national teams.

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be distinguished by a rare and symbolic statistic: eight sets of siblings will take part in the tournament. Some will wear the same national jersey, while others will find themselves on opposite sides, the result of personal journeys and unique sporting choices.

Brothers under different flags

Among the most high-profile cases are the Doué brothers. Guéla Doué will represent Ivory Coast, while his younger brother Désiré Doué will line up for France. A similar story involves the Williams brothers. The elder, Iñaki Williams, has played for Ghana since 2022, while Nico Williams has become one of the faces of the Spanish national team.

Ghana will also feature Kevin Luckassen, whose half-brother Brian Brobbey has chosen to continue his international career with the Netherlands. Another sibling duo will split the spotlight across continents: John Souttar will compete for Scotland, while his brother Harry Souttar will wear the colors of Australia.

When family shares the same jersey

Other families will have the unique honor of defending the same nation together. That includes the French duo Lucas and Théo Hernandez. The Netherlands will also be able to count on twins Quinten and Jurriën Timber, although the latter was ultimately forced to withdraw due to injury.

Cape Verde will be represented by Laros and Deroy Duarte, while Curaçao will rely on brothers Leandro and Juninho Bacuna. For these families, the World Cup is much more than a sporting event: it is the culmination of a shared journey that began on neighborhood pitches and now reaches football's most prestigious stage.

With the tournament expanding to 48 teams and international backgrounds more diverse than ever, the 2026 World Cup is a powerful testament to the deep ties between football, family, and identity. Eight sets of brothers are set to write their own chapter at the heart of the world's greatest sporting spectacle.