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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches – and for fantasy football enthusiasts, that’s 104 opportunities to rack up points and climb the leaderboards.

As the grandest football tournament gets underway, many fans around the world will be eager to dive into the fantasy football challenge that accompanies it.

Building a strong fantasy squad for a short, high-stakes tournament like the World Cup requires sharper instincts and bolder decisions than managing a side across a 38-game league season. So, where should you focus your budget this time around?

Here’s a breakdown of players we think could deliver the best returns for your fantasy investment during the tournament.

The main fantasy platform to consider is the officially branded FIFA World Cup Fantasy game – free to play and styled similarly to Fantasy Premier League. Players get a $100 million budget to form a 15-player squad. However, since the World Cup is a knockout event, it demands more attention and strategy than a typical league setup.

If you prefer a simpler, more social experience, Fantasy Playoffs might be a good alternative. It uses a draft format, meaning you’ll spend more time setting up your team but will have a better chance of forming a squad that lasts deep into the competition.

One of the most engaging aspects of FIFA World Cup Fantasy is the ability to change your captain not just between rounds but even during one. You can switch the captain’s armband from a player who has already played to someone yet to feature in the same round, adding an extra layer of strategy.

The smartest tactic is to pick your captain based on match scheduling. Start with a player from an early fixture in the round, and if they fail to perform, you can switch the armband to someone playing later.

For example, you might start with Florian Wirtz, since Germany face Curacao in the first fixture on Sunday, June 14. If Wirtz doesn’t deliver, you could switch to Lamine Yamal before Spain’s clash with Cape Verde on Monday, June 15.

If that doesn’t work out either, you could move the captaincy to Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi ahead of France vs Senegal and Argentina vs Algeria respectively. And if you still haven’t struck gold, England’s Harry Kane could be your final captain option when they face Croatia on Wednesday.

Ultimately, the goal is to maximise your chances of goals and assists. Since the group stage fixtures are not uniformly balanced, studying upcoming matches before each round can give you a real edge.

If daily captain changes feel like too much effort, following Golden Boot odds can serve as a decent shortcut. Among the top contenders are Kylian Mbappe (France), Harry Kane (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), Erling Haaland (Norway), Lamine Yamal (Spain), and Ousmane Dembele (France).

In goal, England’s Jordan Pickford remains a dependable choice. England didn’t concede a single goal in qualifying and have been rock-solid in recent tournaments. France’s Mike Maignan and the Netherlands’ Bart Verbruggen also look like smart alternatives. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, who was outstanding in the last World Cup, is another strong option if you’re willing to take a risk on their tougher group.

Among defenders, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi stands out as both the most expensive and the most dynamic. If he replicates his Paris Saint-Germain form, he could be a major attacking threat, particularly in group games against Haiti and Scotland. England’s Marc Guehi is another under-the-radar pick, having surprisingly topped the team’s assist chart in qualifying. The Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries also offers good value, especially given recent squad changes due to injuries and omissions.

In midfield, the wide players are listed here rather than in the forwards’ category, meaning you’ll be choosing between stars like Vinicius Jr., Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, and Michael Olise. Lamine Yamal seems like an obvious selection, but caution is advised with Vinicius (who has a rotation risk) and Salah, who has had an inconsistent season. Bruno Fernandes, however, should be a priority pick. He remains central to Portugal’s play just as he is for Manchester United and is attractively priced. Luis Diaz of Colombia, who opens against Uzbekistan, and Belgium’s Jeremy Doku could also offer solid returns.

When it comes to selecting forwards, you’ll be spoilt for choice – Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo are all vying for attention. Realistically, you can only afford one or two of these premium players. Kane and Mbappe lead the pack for us, but Argentina’s Julian Alvarez and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal offer more budget-friendly alternatives who are also likely to score consistently. It’s wise to monitor form and adjust your picks round by round.

As for bargains, it depends on how you define value. The $100m budget feels generous, so unless you stack your team with superstars, you’ll likely have more flexibility than in Fantasy Premier League. Declan Rice looks underpriced at $7m given his set-piece ability and long-range threat, while Alexis Mac Allister offers similar value at $6.6m. Up front, Germany’s Nick Woltemade ($7.2m) and Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson ($6.7m) are intriguing options. For real budget picks, Qatar’s Almoez Ali, who scored 12 goals in qualifying, could perform well against Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Iran’s Mehdi Taremi is another low-cost forward to consider, especially for their opener against New Zealand.