From Sehitler to Armstrong: 10 female footballers set for breakthrough in 2026

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Alara Sehitler, Bayern Munich and Germany (19): Sehitler’s modulation into Bayern Munich’s first squad has travel arsenic small astonishment and nan imaginative midfielder has established herself arsenic a beardown effect subordinate for José Barcala’s side. She has 3 Frauen Bundesliga goals this play and sparked Bayern’s comeback against Arsenal successful nan Champions League. After making her elder debut for Germany successful November 2024, she will beryllium looking to found herself arsenic a regular for their upcoming 2027 World Cup qualifiers.

Giulia Galli, Roma and Italy (17): Galli is wide regarded arsenic 1 of nan champion young Italian talents to look for a agelong clip and became Roma’s youngest subordinate to make her Serie A debut successful May 2024, aged 16 and 1 month. Establishing herself successful nan elder squad this season, she scored her first nine extremity successful September and has featured successful nan Champions League. After starring successful Italy’s sensational tally to nan semi-finals of past summer’s Under-17 Euros, nan talented guardant played a important domiciled astatine nan consequent Under-17 World Cup, picking up nan bronze boot. She will surely characteristic astatine this autumn’s Under-20 World Cup.

Fridah Mukoma, Kansas City Current and Zambia (19): Mukoma is yet to characteristic for Kansas City Current since joining successful March but she is 1 of nan latest breathtaking Zambian talents. She signed for nan National Women’s Soccer League nine for an undisclosed interest from Zesco Ndola Girls earlier heading to Beijing Jingtan connected loan. The striker made an contiguous effect aft making her debut astatine world level, winning nan aureate footwear arsenic Zambia won nan 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship (southern Africa’s location tournament) and will beryllium 1 to watch astatine nan 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Daniela Galic, Vittsjö and Australia (19): Galic is an attacking midfielder who has shown plentifulness of potential. Currently playing successful Sweden astatine Vittsjö, she made her people connected nan 2nd half of nan 2025 Damallsvenskan season, instantly becoming a regular starter and registering 4 goals and 3 assists successful 13 appearances. She has yet to make an quality for Joe Montemurro’s Matildas but, pinch a successful Young Matildas profession nether her belt, she will person 1 oculus connected trying to unit her measurement into nan squad for a location Asian Cup this March.

Paula Comendador successful action for Real Madrid
Paula Comendador has stepped up to Real Madrid’s elder squad arsenic a teen aft demonstrating a proven expertise to people successful age-group football. Photograph: Javier Borrego/AFP7/Shutterstock

Paula Comendador, Real Madrid and Spain (18): Comendador has consistently been 1 of nan astir prolific goalscorers successful younker football. Her exploits pinch Spain astatine some under-17 and under-19 level – including a metallic medal, aureate footwear and metallic shot astatine nan 2024 Under-17 Women’s World Cup – are an denotation of nan extent of her talent. She moved up to nan Real Madrid elder squad successful July and has predominantly featured from nan chair this season. She should adhd to her acquisition pinch an Under-20 World Cup later this twelvemonth and a elder debut for La Roja will surely not beryllium excessively acold away.

Montserrat Saldívar, Club América and Mexico (19): There is simply a beardown statement to opportunity that Saldívar has already surgery retired successful Mexico. Since making her debut for Club América astatine 14, she has racked up much than 100 appearances for nan Liga MX Femenil side. The winger has played an integral domiciled successful Mexico’s caller advancement astatine younker level, ever-present successful their tally to nan information of 16 astatine nan 2024 Under-20 World Cup and scoring 8 goals arsenic they secured nan metallic badge astatine past summer’s Concacaf Under-20 Championship. Her elder debut came successful October 2024 and pinch nan opportunity to play successful different Under-20 World Cup and first Concacaf Women’s Championship, wherever qualification for nan 2027 World Cup is up for grabs, nan adjacent 12 months could beryllium moreover much significant.

Wassa Sangaré, London City Lionesses and France (19): Sangaré’s agleam commencement to life successful nan Women’s Super League has surely been noticed aft nan young French world joined London City Lionesses connected indebtedness from OL Lyonnes. The talented cardinal defender has adjusted good to nan demands of nan apical English league, establishing her spot pinch 9 consecutive convention starts. Her occurrence astatine younker level for France – winning nan 2023 Under-17 Euros and reaching nan semi-finals of nan under-19 tourney nan consequent twelvemonth – led to her making her elder debut successful nan Nations League third-place playoff triumph complete Sweden successful early December.

Kaylee Hunter, AFC Toronto and Canada (17): The motorboat of Canada’s Northern Super League successful 2025 allowed nan spotlight to beryllium shone connected immoderate of Canada’s emerging talents. One of nan starring lights is Hunter, who was astatine nan bosom of AFC Toronto’s occurrence successful winning nan inaugural NSL Supporters’ Shield, for topping nan regular-season table, and reaching nan final. A talented forward, she vanished second-top scorer pinch 14 goals and was named rookie of nan year. Her performances caught nan oculus of Canada’s caput coach, Casey Stoney, and she received her first call-up successful October but is yet to make her debut.

Lucia Kendall scores a extremity for England against Ghana
Lucia Kendall’s fantabulous extremity to 2025 included scoring a first elder England goal. Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

Lucia Kendall, Aston Villa and England (21): It has been a whirlwind 3 months for Kendall, who has recovered herself propelled into nan spotlight astatine nan highest level. After making nan move from Southampton to Aston Villa and nan WSL, her awesome performances astatine nan bosom of midfield caught nan oculus of Sarina Wiegman. A debut followed successful nan Lionesses’ triumph complete Australia backmost successful October wherever she put successful a player-of-the-match performance. In nan pursuing camp, she scored her first England extremity against Ghana astatine St Mary’s Stadium, nan location of her puerility club, wherever she had played for a decade. Kendall will surely play an integral domiciled successful nan upcoming World Cup qualifiers arsenic she looks to cement her domiciled wrong nan setup.

Trinity Armstrong, San Diego Wave and USA (18): Armstrong’s debut play successful nan NWSL could not person gone overmuch better. The centre-back established herself arsenic a champion successful Jonas Eidevall’s San Diego Wave broadside arsenic they made a tally for nan playoffs. Mature beyond her years, she made 23 regular-season appearances and scored 1 goal. She has represented nan USA from under-15 level and was ever-present successful their third-place decorativeness astatine nan 2024 Under-17 World Cup. Her performances will person nary uncertainty put her connected Emma Hayes’s radar arsenic she continues to bring young players into nan elder fold.

Talking points

New start: Tenerife person appointed a caller coach aft nan astonishment departure of Eder Maestre, handing nan reins to Yerai Martín Ramos. The 33-year-old has already had a successful spell astatine Eibar while his astir caller occupation was successful Portugal pinch Racing Power FC. “I get hoping to turn pinch nan nine and bring joyousness to nan island,” he says.

Early activity: The transportation model does not officially unfastened until Friday 2 January but location has been immoderate early business completed successful nan WSL. Manchester United person been astatine nan bosom of nan news truthful far, signing nan Sweden defender Hanna Lundkvist and nan Germany guardant Lea Schüller while besides extending Hinata Miyazawa’s contract. The 22-year-old Swedish defender Hanna Wijk has joined Tottenham connected a semipermanent statement from Häcken.

Lea Schüller celebrates a Germany goal
Germany’s Lea Schüller is 1 of 2 caller signings already made by Manchester United. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy

Quote of nan day

From nan first conversations that I had pinch Marc [Skinner] and nan club, nan ambitions of everyone present were very clear. I still person truthful overmuch that I want to execute successful my career, and I cognize that Manchester United is nan cleanable nine to join. I consciousness that nan team’s style of shot will really suit my game, I dream my qualities and acquisition tin thief america to execute our intends some successful England and successful nan Champions League” – Schüller connected signing for Manchester United.

With nan wintertime break present successful Europe successful afloat flow, move your eyes to Australia’s A-League, wherever nan 19-year-old guardant Peta Trimis scored this rocket for Central Coast Mariners successful their 3-3 tie pinch Melbourne Victory.

Still want more?

With an unusually precocious number of elite-level players retired of statement successful 2026 it promises to beryllium an intriguing January transportation window. Tom Garry has nan lowdown.

What will women’s shot successful England look for illustration successful 10 years’ time? Suzanne Wrack has nan answers.

And, past but not least, check retired our women’s transportation interactive, including each woody successful nan WSL, NWSL, Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, Première Ligue and Serie A Femminile.

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Source theguardian.com
theguardian.com