Biggest Selection Debates
The hardest omission is Riyad Mahrez. On pure talent, Mahrez remains one of the greatest footballers produced by the Muslim world, but this XI needs a little more running power and defensive transition support from the right, which is why Ziyech starts and Mahrez becomes the specialist creative substitute. Another debate is Youssef En-Nesyri versus Mehdi Taremi. En-Nesyri is more dangerous in the air, but Taremi is more complete across different match states, which matters in a combined XI.
There is also a strong argument for Mohamed Salah if Egypt’s World Cup involvement and role are treated through the wider Muslim-world lens, but for this particular version, the XI is built as a balanced tournament side rather than a greatest-name collection. If Salah is fit, active and influential in the tournament context, he can force his way into the right-wing role in later updates, especially if the article is revised after the Round of 32.
AI Music Generator
June 29, 2026 at 2:23 pm
This is an interesting way to highlight the global reach of football by focusing on players from Muslim-majority nations rather than just the traditional powerhouses. It would also be fascinating to hear your thoughts on which players were the toughest omissions, especially with the expanded 48-team World Cup bringing more emerging talent into the spotlight.