Playing at a World Cup is the pinnacle of any footballer's career and a source of enormous pride for an entire family. To see both father and son reach the sport's biggest stage is an even rarer achievement, and the 2026 tournament will add 18 new names to that exclusive club.

From Erling Haaland and Giuliano Simeone to Luca Zidane, these players are not only chasing their own dreams but also continuing family legacies written decades earlier.

Alf-Inge and Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland was not even born when Norway last appeared at a World Cup in 1998. Four years earlier, his father, Alf-Inge, featured twice at USA 1994. It is one of the few cases where the son is expected to surpass an already impressive international legacy.

Erling Haaland

Diego and Giuliano Simeone

Giuliano Simeone's breakout season at Atletico Madrid has earned him a place in Argentina's World Cup squad. His father, Diego 'Cholo' Simeone, represented the Albiceleste at three editions, making 11 appearances between 1994 and 2002.

Giualiano Simeone

Zinedine and Luca Zidane

Luca Zidane chose to represent Algeria, allowing him to make his international breakthrough with the Desert Foxes. The Granada goalkeeper is the only one of Zinedine Zidane's four sons to follow his father onto the World Cup stage.

The French legend played in three tournaments, lifting the trophy in 1998 and reaching the final again in 2006.

Luca Zidane

Gregg and Sebastian Berhalter

The Berhalters will continue their family story on home soil. Gregg represented the United States at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as a defender, while his son Sebastian has emerged as one of the country's brightest midfield talents after breaking into the senior squad last year.

Sebastian Berhalter

Sergio and Francisco Conceicao

Another generation of the Conceicao family is ready for football's grandest stage. Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao will make his World Cup debut, following in the footsteps of his father Sergio, who featured in all three of Portugal's group-stage matches in 2002.

Francisco Conceicao

Lee Eul-yong and Lee Tae-seok

Lee Eul-yong was a key figure in South Korea's unforgettable run to the semi-finals in 2002. More than two decades later, his son Tae-seok, an adventurous left-back, is ready to write the next chapter in the family's World Cup story.

Tae-Seok Lee

Goran and Alexander Sorloth

The comparison with the Haalands is unavoidable. Goran Sorloth was part of Norway's 1994 squad, while his son Alexander now leads the Scandinavian attack as one of the country's biggest stars.

Alexander Sorloth

Pablo and Nico Paz

Argentina's rich footballing heritage continues through the Paz family. Pablo Paz represented his country at France 1998, while his son Nico, despite being born in Tenerife, chose to wear the Albiceleste shirt and now prepares for his first World Cup.

Nico Paz

Bryan and Angus Gunn

Few father-son duos share the same position. Bryan Gunn travelled to Italia 90 as Scotland's third-choice goalkeeper, while his son Angus, after being courted by England, opted to represent his family roots and will defend the Scottish goal in 2026.

Angus Gunn

Pape and Mamadou Sarr

Pape Sarr was part of the legendary Senegal side that stunned defending champions France in 2002. His son Mamadou, after progressing through France's youth ranks, ultimately chose to represent the Lions of Teranga.

Mamadou Sarr

Patrick and Justin Kluivert

Twenty-four years after Patrick Kluivert represented the Netherlands at his only World Cup, his son Justin is ready to carry the Oranje attack into a new era.

Justin Kluivert

Erik and Kristian Thorstvedt

Former goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt was Norway's number one at USA 1994. Now it is the turn of his son Kristian, an energetic midfielder, to experience football's biggest competition.

Kristian Thorstvedt

Jose Luis and Rodrigo Zalazar

The Zalazar family spans generations. Jose Luis represented Uruguay at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, while nearly four decades later his son Rodrigo prepares to continue the family tradition.

Rodrigo Zalazar

Roberto 'Gato' and Roberto 'Gatito' Fernandez

Paraguayan football has its own father-son goalkeeping dynasty. Roberto 'Gato' Fernandez featured at Mexico 1986, while his son 'Gatito' is set to fulfil his lifelong dream by appearing at the age of 38.

Roberto Gatito Fernandez

Joseph and Anthony Elanga

Joseph Elanga was a member of Cameroon's 1998 World Cup squad. His son Anthony, however, chose to represent Sweden, the country where he was born, extending the family's World Cup legacy under different colours.

Elanga

Vladimir and Nikola Vasilj

Vladimir Vasilj represented Croatia at both the 1998 and 2002 tournaments. His son Nikola now carries the family name into the competition as Bosnia's first-choice goalkeeper.

Nikola Vasilj

Aldo and Damian Bobadilla

Aldo Bobadilla guarded Paraguay's goal at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. In 2026, his son Damian will make his own debut, this time as a midfielder.

Aldo Bobadilla

Ahmed and Mostafa Shobeir

Egypt's footballing tradition continues through the Shobeir family. Ahmed was part of the Pharaohs squad at Italia 90, and now his son Mostafa has the opportunity to follow exactly the same path on the world's biggest stage.

Mostafa Shobeir

The families who already made history

The 2026 World Cup will welcome a new generation of father-son duos, but many famous footballing families have already left their mark on the tournament over the years.

Before Haaland, Zidane and Simeone continue their legacies, these fathers and sons all represented their countries at different World Cups:

Luis Perez (1930) and Mario Perez (1950) | Mexico

Marti Vantolra (1934) and Jose Vantolra (1970) | Spain and Mexico

Domingos da Guia (1938) and Ademir da Guia (1974) | Brazil

Roger Rio (1934) and Patrice Rio (1978) | France

Nicolae Lupescu (1970) and Ionut Lupescu (1990, 1994) | Romania

Cesare Maldini (1962) and Paolo Maldini (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002) | Italy

Manuel Sanchis (1966) and Manolo Sanchis (1990) | Spain

Roy Andersson (1978) and Patrik Andersson (1994) | Sweden

Jean Djorkaeff (1966) and Youri Djorkaeff (1998, 2002) | France

Jan Verheyen (1970) and Gert Verheyen (1998, 2002) | Belgium

Roy Andersson (1978) and Daniel Andersson (2002, 2006) | Sweden

Cha Bum-kun (1986) and Cha Du-ri (2002, 2010) | South Korea

Julio Montero Castillo (1970, 1974) and Paolo Montero (2002) | Uruguay

Pablo Forlan (1966, 1974) and Diego Forlan (2002, 2010, 2014) | Uruguay

Anders Linderoth (1978) and Tobias Linderoth (2002, 2006) | Sweden

Periko Alonso (1982) and Xabi Alonso (2006, 2010, 2014) | Spain

Miguel Reina (1966) and Pepe Reina (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) | Spain

Wlodzimierz Smolarek (1982, 1986) and Ebi Smolarek (2006) | Poland

Javier Hernandez Gutierrez (1986) and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (2010, 2014, 2018) | Mexico

Jan Kozak (1982) and Jan Kozak Jr (2010) | Czechoslovakia and Slovakia

Vladimir Weiss Sr (1990) and Vladimir Weiss Jr (2010) | Czechoslovakia and Slovakia

Danny Blind (1990, 1994) and Daley Blind (2014, 2022) | Netherlands

Alexandre Guimaraes (1990) and Celso Borges (2014, 2018, 2022) | Costa Rica

Mazinho (1990, 1994) and Thiago Alcantara (2018) | Brazil and Spain

Peter Schmeichel (1998) and Kasper Schmeichel (2018, 2022) | Denmark

Claudio Reyna (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006) and Giovanni Reyna (2022) | United States

Lilian Thuram (1998, 2002, 2006) and Marcus Thuram (2022) | France

With another 18 father-son pairings set to be represented at the 2026 World Cup, football's most exclusive family club is about to grow once.

M. Sarr

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