Don't Miss It: Budget World Cup Fantasy Bargains from Bank Yahav
The surprising players who can help you stay within budget, from goalkeepers you must include in your team, through defenders who can save you from the bench, to legends not to underestimate in attack and the joker worth knowing. The full list, from every position. Click to register for the Bank Yahav and Sports Channel World Cup Fantasy game, Sports 5.
A challenge every fantasy manager knows is the budget cap. How can you fit in as many of the biggest, most expensive stars as possible, especially in a World Cup in which so many superstars will play, with no fewer than 48 national teams participating? The solution, as is well known, is to find the cheap players who are expected to start and could also score plenty of points, a research task that is not easy, so we have put together an extensive, detailed and complete list. The excitement begins tonight, so hurry to register for the Bank Yahav and Sports Channel World Cup Fantasy game. Carperau. Will Canada give you a clean sheet at a minimal price? (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) | Photo: Sports 5
Goalkeepers Hernan Galindez, 3 million, Ecuador. Maxime Crepeau, 3 million, Canada. Other goalkeepers expected to start and priced at just 3 million: *Craig Gordon, 3 million, Scotland.
Defense Many players who are expected to start enjoy a low price, 3 or 4 million, which can help you a lot, whether for a bench spot or the end of the lineup, and certainly for anyone planning to use the full-squad scoring bonus already in the group stage.
Eric Davis, 3 million, Panama. The only one on the list of cheap defenders or center backs expected to take penalties, and also set pieces. In addition, he could play as a winger or wingback in a five-man defense, meaning he is relatively attacking. Aron Hickey, 4, Scotland. Scotland's starting left back will face Haiti in the opening round. Luke De Fougerolles, 4, Canada. Starts against Bosnia and Qatar. Tim Ream, 4, USA. The hosts open against Paraguay and Australia. Gideon Mensah, 4, Ghana. Left back, and in the first round they will face Panama. Ki-Yeok Lee, 4, South Korea. Faces Czech Republic, Mexico, South Africa. Steve Kapuadi, 4, Congo. Round 3 against Uzbekistan. Saud Abdulhamid, 4, Saudi Arabia. Final round against Cape Verde. Harry Souttar, 4, Australia. Yasser Ibrahim, 4, Egypt.
There are several additional defenders at just 3 million who are expected to start, but from teams considered weaker: Salim Obeid, Jordan Ricardo Ade, Qatar Jurien Gary, Curacao Giovanni Ramos, Panama Rabin Sulaka, Saudi Arabia, may start
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Gora, will he start as a striker? (Alaan Schieber) | Photo: Sports 5
Midfield There are also quite a few cheap players expected to start in this position, and some of them take penalties or set pieces. A range of players outside the big national teams, priced at 3 or 4 million, will be in their teams' starting elevens, and these are the ones with the most attacking potential among them.
Ammar Al-Ammari, 3 million, Iraq. Expected to take all set pieces, and perhaps also penalties. Ryan Mendes, 3, Cape Verde. Will start on the right wing, may take penalties. Otabek Shukurov, 3, Uzbekistan. May take penalties and set pieces. Expected to start on the right flank. Thabo Mokoena, 3, South Africa. May take set pieces. Ben Doak, 4, Scotland. Another representative on the list from the group opening against Haiti. Expected to start on the right flank. Leandro Bacuna, 4, Curacao. Penalties and set pieces. Kenji Gora, 4, Curacao. The Maccabi Haifa player may start up front as a striker, is listed as a midfielder in fantasy, and therefore if he scores he will earn you more points. Another advantage is that, as a midfielder, he does not take up a striker spot in your lineup, with a limit of up to 3 in the fantasy game, compared with 5 midfielders.
Forwards Docens Nzon, 3, Haiti. Ayman Hussein, 3, Iraq. Cecilio Waterman, 3, Panama. *Lawrence Shankland, 4, Scotland.
Special bargains: players in a slightly higher price bracket than the list above, who can certainly be the X-factor in your team.
Defense Nathan Ngoy, 5 million, Belgium. One of a pair of center backs expected to start in a defense for a team with an especially easy group, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, in that order. Israel Reyes, 5, Mexico. May start in the hosts' defense for the World Cup opener against South Africa. This will be the only match in which we will get the official lineups before the fantasy transfer deadline, so it is worth paying attention. Maxi Araujo, 7, Uruguay. Considered a defender in fantasy, but expected to play in midfield on the left wing, the role he also plays at Sporting Lisbon. Higher chances of a goal or assist compared with most fantasy defenders, and on paper also good odds for a clean sheet. Starts against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.
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Midfield Marcel Sabitzer, 6, Austria. Cheap compared with players with similar roles and importance in smaller national teams. The Dortmund midfielder was involved in 6 goals in qualifying, is expected to start on the wing and is considered Austria's central attacking player. Starts against Jordan and is expected to take all set pieces, perhaps also penalties. Luka Modric, 6, Croatia. The legendary player received a low price because of his relatively deep role on the pitch and his advanced age, but he is expected to take penalties and all set pieces. Akram Afif, 6, Qatar. Although this is a weak national team, its biggest star is also responsible for all set pieces and penalties, and plays on the wing. Granit Xhaka, 6, Switzerland. Plays deep but may take penalties, and starts against Qatar and Bosnia.
Forwards Jordan Ayew, 7, Ghana. Another veteran player, who is also responsible for all set pieces and penalties. Slightly more expensive than the rest of the list because he is a forward. Starts against Panama. Raul Jimenez, 7, Mexico. The hosts' penalty taker as they open the World Cup against South Africa. An interesting asset, especially for anyone who wants to be particularly excited about the match that will kick off the tournament. World Cup 2026 Found a typo?
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