World Cup 2026: Our Non-League XI ready to take on the world!

From Basingstoke to Blyth Spartans, Southport and Ilkeston Town, the Non-League flag will be flying high at this World Cup.

We had a bash at putting together a starting line-up and a small bench from the former – and current – Non-Leaguers representing their countries in USA, Canada and Mexico…

David Raya – Spain

A Premier League champion, Raya’s loan spell at Southport is the stuff of legend.

The Arsenal stopper was on the books of Blackburn Rovers when he joined the Sandgrounders on loan back in 2014-15.

Bristol Rovers’ Jake Gosling scored past him on a losing debut, and Woking’s Scott Rendell also hit a hat-trick in a 5-2 thumping, but Raya also kept five clean sheets and starred in a narrow 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Derby County.

Now a title-winner and Champions League runner-up as well as part of the Spain squad for their Euro 2024 triumph.

SPAINISH SHOTSTOPPER: David Raya
PICTURES: Alamy

Dom Hyam – Scotland

The 30-year-old Wrexham defender came through the ranks at Reading with his first taste of senior football a loan spell under the tutelage of Dean Brennan at Hemel Hempstead Town in the Conference South back in 2014.

Six appearances – and one goal – with Basingstoke Town followed the next season, and a few years later he made three appearances for Aldershot Town.

Capped once by Scotland going into the tournament, it’s been quite the ride for the former Coventry City man.

Dan Burn – England

Big Dan Burn was working part-time at Asda when Darlington lured him from Blyth Spartans, where he’d come through the academy.

Darlo’s off-field problems meant he made his debut in League Two and was then, having returned to the academy, part of Mark Cooper’s Conference squad the following season as they won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2010.

“If I were a Premier League manager, I would sign him straight away, whatever the cost,” Cooper said.

Fulham eventually won the race for the imposing defender and he’s gone on to win promotions with Yeovil and Wigan as well as the League Cup with current club Newcastle United.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back made his England debut under Thomas Tuchel in March 2025.

ENGLAND STAR: Dan Burn

Cameron Burgess – Australia

Burgess joined Cheltenham Town in the thick of a National League title race.

Robins boss Gary Johnson had no issue throwing the Fulham loanee straight into the heat.

The only minor blip was an own-goal against Eastleigh that ended a 22-game unbeaten run, but Johnson was unmoved.

Then just 20, he started all 17 games for Johnson’s side as they went on to be crowned champions and return to the Football League at the first attempt.

Promoted twice with Ipswich Town, from League One to the Premier League, where he played 18 times, Burgess made his Australia debut in 2023 and has played 25 times for the Socceroos.

Antoine Semenyo – Ghana

Made his debut for Highworth Town in the FA Cup back in 2017 but it was a loan spell from Bristol City to Bath City under Jerry Gill where he started to get really noticed.

A temporary move to Newport County continued his development and led to his breakthrough at his parent club.

Bournemouth fulfilled his Premier League dream before, this season, joining Manchester City in a £64m deal where he scored the winner in the FA Cup final. Now out to dent England’s World Cup dreams in the group stages with Ghana.

GHANA ACE: Antoine Semenyo

Ali Al-Hamadi – Iraq

Three goals in ten games for Bromley, while on loan from Wycombe Wanderers in 2022, saw him become highly regarded by Ravens boss Andy Woodman.

His short time in Non-League also brought silverware as part of the team who upset big-spending Wrexham in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

Promoted to the Premier League with Ipswich Town, the 24-year-old forward will be aiming to impress with Iraq this summer.

Anthony Barry – England

Okay, not strictly a current player, but Thomas Tuchel’s assistant was a quality midfielder in his day.

Part of Micky Mellon’s Fleetwood Town when they won promotion through the Conference North play-offs, he also featured for Wrexham and Forest Green Rovers before the coaching bug took over.

Still only 40, he is Tuchel’s trusted side-kick having been alongside the German at Chelsea – where they won the Champions League – and Bayern Munich.

Barry has major tournament experience with Belgium alongside Roberto Martinez, who he also worked for with Portugal.

TUCHEL’S RIGHT-HAND MAN: England assistant Anthony Barry

Brandon Thomas-Asante – Ghana

The Coventry City attacker had two loan spells in Non-League while at MK Dons.

First came eight appearances at Sutton United in 2019 before later in the same season turning out for Mark Jones’ Oxford City in National League South where he scored three times in 15 appearances.

Ahead of the 2019-20 campaign he signed permanently for Ebbsfleet United but played just three times before Salford City swooped in to take him to the Football League.

Iliman Ndiaye – Senegal

“We were fortunate he landed on our lap but the minute he came in it was, ‘No, no – this one is special’,” Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard recalled.

Ndiaye was quickly snapped up by Sheffield United, who sent him to Hyde United for a six-game loan spell in the NPL Premier in 2020.

Now a star at Everton, this is the Senegal international’s second World Cup.

Ollie Watkins – England

The Aston Villa hitman has often talked about the important role his Weston-super-Mare loan spell played in his career.

He scored ten goals in 24 appearances for the National League South Seagulls while at Exeter City.

From there he joined Brentford and now Villa where he is an established Premier League forward and has just won the Europa League.

Watkins has scored six goals for England – including the decisive semi-final winner against the Netherlands at Euro 2024.

Che Adams – Scotland

The buzz around Adams started well before Sheffield United plucked him from Ilkeston in 2014.

In fact, the move saw him pull out of England C’s squad to take on Estonia at FC Halifax Town.

Started out at Oadby Town before making the move to the Robins, Adams has since gone on to play in the Premier League for Southampton and Serie A with Torino.

He also has 46 Scotland caps and 11 goals.

SCOTLAND STRIKER: Che Adams

Substitutes

Jordan Pickford – England

Loan spells at Darlington and Alfreton helped shape the former Sunderland keeper’s early career before his move to Everton in 2017.

Dean Henderson – England

A short loan spell at Stockport County benefitted the former Manchester United youngster who is now a UEFA Conference League winner at Crystal Palace.

Max Crocombe – New Zealand

Part of Salford City’s promotions from the National League North and National League, he was also on the bench when Grimsby Town were promoted to the EFL in 2022. The Millwall keeper started in the United Counties League with Buckingham Town and he’s had loan spells with Banbury, Nuneaton Town and Southport.

Tommy Smith – New Zealand

Joined Braintree Town last summer with the intention of making the All Whites’ World Cup squad, which he has achieved.