Don’t Miss It: The Bargain Picks in Bank Yahav’s World Cup Fantasy

The surprising players who will help you stay within budget, from goalkeepers you must include in your team, to defenders who can save you from the bench, to legends you should not underestimate in attack, and the joker you need to know. The full list, across all positions.

Click to register for Bank Yahav and Sports Channel’s World Cup Fantasy, Sports 5. Published: 11.06.26, 18:12 (GETTY) | Photo: Sports 5

Every fantasy manager knows the issue of budget limits. How can you fit as many of the biggest and most expensive stars into your team, especially in a World Cup where 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 who may also score plenty of points, a research task that is not simple. So we have put together a packed, detailed and comprehensive list. The madness starts tonight, so hurry and register for Bank Yahav and Sports Channel’s World Cup Fantasy.

Karpeau. Can 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 only 3 million:

Craig Gordon, 3 million, Scotland.

Davis, will he surprise with attacking returns or finish on minus? (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) | Photo: Sports 5

Defense

Many players who are expected to start are available at a low price, 3/4 million, which can help you a great deal, whether for a bench spot or the edge of the lineup, and certainly for anyone planning to use the bonus scoring for the whole squad already in the group stage.

Eric Davis, 3 million, Panama. The only one in the list of cheap defenders/center backs expected to take penalties, and also set pieces. In addition, he may operate as a winger/fullback in a five-man defense, meaning he is relatively attacking.

Aaron Hickey, 4, Scotland. Scotland’s starting left back, he will face Haiti in the opening round.

Luke de Fougerolles, 4, Canada. Starts against Bosnia and Qatar.

Tim Ream, 4, USA. The host opens against Paraguay and Australia.

Gideon Mensah, 4, Ghana. Left back, in the first round they will meet Panama.

Ki-heuk Lee, 4, South Korea. Faces Czech Republic, Mexico and 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 priced at only 3 million who are expected to start, but from national teams considered weaker:

Salim Obeid, Jordan Ricardo Ade, Qatar Jorrel Gary, Curacao Giovanni Ramos, Panama Rabin Sulaka, Saudi Arabia, may start

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Gora, will he start as a striker? (Alen Shiber) | Photo: Sports 5

Midfield

Here too, a number of cheap players are expected to start, and some of them also take penalties or set pieces. A range of players outside the big teams, priced at 3/4 million, will be in the starting XI for their countries. These are the ones with the most attacking potential among them.

Ameer Al Ammari, 3 million, Iraq. Expected to take all set pieces, and maybe penalties too. 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 that opens against Haiti. Expected to start on the right wing.

Leandro Bacuna, 4, Curacao. Penalties and set pieces.

Kenji Gorre, 4, Curacao. The Maccabi Haifa player may start up front as a striker, and is listed as a midfielder in fantasy, so 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, which is limited to up to 3 in fantasy, compared with 5 midfielders.

Strikers

Dukens Nazon, 3, Haiti. Ayman Hussein, 3, Iraq. Cecilio Waterman, 3, Panama.

*Lawrence Shankland, 4, Scotland.

The special bargains: players in a slightly higher price bracket than the list above, who could definitely be the X factor in your team.

Defense

Nathan Ngoy, 5 million, Belgium. One of the pair of center backs expected to start in the defense of a team that has an especially easy group, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, in that order.

Israel Reyes, 5, Mexico. May start in the host’s defense for the World Cup opening match against South Africa. This will be the only match in which we get the official lineups before the fantasy substitution deadline, so it is worth paying attention.

Maxi Araujo, 7, Uruguay. Considered a defender in fantasy, but is expected to play in midfield on the left wing, the role he also plays at Sporting Lisbon. He has better chances of a goal or assist than most fantasy defenders, and on paper also has a strong chance of a clean sheet, starting against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

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Midfield

Marcel Sabitzer, 6, Austria. Cheap price relative to players with similar roles and importance in not-so-small 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. He starts against Jordan and is expected to take all set pieces, and maybe penalties too.

Luka Modric, 6, Croatia. The legendary player was given 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 deeper but may take penalties, and starts against Qatar and Bosnia.

Strikers

Jordan Ayew, 7, Ghana. Another veteran player, who is also responsible for all set pieces and penalties. His price is slightly higher than the rest of the list because he is a striker. Starts against Panama.

Raul Jimenez, 7, Mexico. The host’s penalty taker, as Mexico opens the World Cup against South Africa. An interesting asset, especially for anyone who wants to be especially excited about the match that will kick off the tournament.

World Cup 2026

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