Like Father, Like Son: 2026 Stars Whose Fathers Also Played at the World Cup

Last updated: Jun 23, 2026

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2026 World Cup stars whose fathers also played at a World Cup

These players are carrying a direct family link to football’s biggest stage, because their fathers appeared at a World Cup before them.

Player (Nation)	Father’s World Cup link
Luca Zidane (Algeria)	Son of Zinedine Zidane, the France playmaker who won the 1998 World Cup and captained the side to the 2006 final. Luca qualified for Algeria through his grandparents and made his World Cup debut for Les Fennecs, as Yahoo Sports explains.
Marcus Thuram (France)	Son of Lilian Thuram, France’s most-capped defender and a 1998 World Cup champion. Marcus was named in France’s 26-man squad for 2026, per Fox Sports.
Erling Haaland (Norway)	Son of Alf-Inge Håland, who played for Norway at the 1994 World Cup. Haaland leads Norway at their first World Cup in 28 years.
Giuliano Simeone (Argentina)	Son of Diego Simeone, who played for Argentina at three World Cups. Giuliano was named in Lionel Scaloni’s defending-champion squad, as covered by beIN Sports.
Justin Kluivert (Netherlands)	Son of Patrick Kluivert, a Netherlands forward at the 1998 World Cup. Justin was named in the Dutch squad wearing number 8.
Giovanni Reyna (USA)	Son of Claudio Reyna, the former USA captain who played at multiple World Cups. Gio made the 26-man home World Cup squad.
Sebastian Berhalter (USA)	Son of Gregg Berhalter, who played for the USA at the 2002 World Cup. Sebastian was named in the host nation’s squad, per beIN Sports.

Norway’s record-breaking father-and-son moment

Norway just made World Cup history by fielding three sons of former World Cup players in the same match. Erling Haaland, Alexander Sørloth and Kristian Thorstvedt all started against Iraq, as reported by The Tribune.

The twist makes it remarkable. Nearly 32 years earlier, on 23 June 1994, Norway fielded their fathers — Alf-Inge Haaland, Göran Sørloth and Erik Thorstvedt — together against Italy at the World Cup in the United States.

Son (Norway, 2026)	Father (Norway, 1994)
Erling Haaland	Alf-Inge Håland
Alexander Sørloth	Göran Sørloth
Kristian Thorstvedt	Erik Thorstvedt

Famous footballing fathers who never reached a World Cup

Some of the tournament’s biggest stars have footballer fathers too, but their dads never played at a World Cup themselves.

Mbappé’s father is one such example.

The connection here is the game, not the stage.

Player (Nation)	Father’s link to the game
Kylian Mbappé (France)	His father, Wilfried Mbappé, was a regional-level footballer who became a youth coach at AS Bondy, where he helped develop Kylian. Britannica notes the coaching role, but Wilfried never played at a World Cup.
Timothy Weah (USA)	His father, George Weah, won the 1995 Ballon d’Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year — yet Liberia never qualified, so he never played at a World Cup. Timothy now represents the USA, a point highlighted by beIN Sports.

There is also a father from a completely different sport. USA defender Alex Freeman is the son of Antonio Freeman, a former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and Super Bowl XXXI champion in American football, as ESPN reports.

Alex has already made an impact in 2026, scoring in the USA’s group-stage win over Australia.

How to follow the 2026 World Cup across North America

The 2026 World Cup is being staged in 16 host cities across three countries, so following a team can mean criss-crossing the continent. Planning flights and stays early is the smartest move during a tournament this size.

Key US host cities include New York, Dallas, Miami, Seattle and Houston.

Canada hosts matches in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico stages games in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

You can compare flights to Los Angeles or flights to Mexico City, and book hotels in New York or hotels in Mexico City near the stadiums.

To keep tabs on schedules and any disruption while you travel, use the Wego flight tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Kylian Mbappé’s father play in the World Cup?

No. Wilfried Mbappé was a regional-level footballer and youth coach at AS Bondy. He never played at a World Cup.

Which 2026 World Cup player’s father actually won the World Cup?

Luca Zidane and Marcus Thuram both qualify. Their fathers, Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, were part of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team.

Is Alex Freeman’s father a footballer?

Not in the soccer sense. Antonio Freeman played American football for the Green Bay Packers and won Super Bowl XXXI.

Sources

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