Top 10 bright prospects from CONCACAF
The Concacaf football zone has struggled in the last few years. The region has been embroiled in several controversial bribery scandals.
On the field, has not been much better, only Mexico managed to get out of the group stage in the 2018 World Cup and traditional CONCACAF powerhouse, United States, did not even qualify for the Russian showpiece.
However, with the region hosting the World Cup in 2026 there is renewed optimism for its football.
This along with some exciting talent emerging from North America, Central America and the Carribean indicates a very promising future. Let's have a look into the Top 10 bright prospects from the CONCACAF region.
#10 Alberth Elis
Nicknamed the "Black Panther" Elis has raw power and pace. The 22-year old showed he can compete with the very best when he guided his Honduran teammates to one place off an Olympic medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Now fully owned by Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo the forward is one of the league's most promising stars. During Concacaf World Cup qualifying the speedster scored four goals as the Hondurans sealed a playoff spot only to be dispatched by Australian opponents in the following round.
#9 Michael Murillo
Panama played in their first-ever World Cup finals this summer and while they were a level below the opposition, right-back, Michael Murillo, was one of their more impressive performers.
The 22-year-old is a modern attacking wing back attached to New York Red Bulls in the MLS where he has continued his good form post the World Cup. European clubs have started to circle and it should not be too long before he is on to greener pastures.
#8 Jonathan David
The 18-year old Belgium based striker has taken Europe by storm, scoring 6 goals in his first 11 professional games for Gent. He continued this remarkable form by scoring a brace on his international debut for Canada.
Born in New York, David has been developed in the Canadian system and could be leading the line together with fellow youngster Besiktas' Cyle Larin in 2026 for the host.
#7 Edson Alvarez
Ever present in the Mexican defence during the World Cup, Alvarez played with heart and won admirers all over the world. His versatility is a big plus as he can play all along the back four and in the midfield.
Strong, combative with a good technical ability he has all the tools that made former Mexican great Rafa Marquez so sort after. The 20-year old plays in Liga MX for the legendary Club America.
#6 Tim Weah
Son of current Liberian President and former Balon d'Or winner George Weah, Tim is forging his own name in the game. Part of a star-studded PSG attack, Weah who is still only a teenager, has scored 2 goals in his 3 games this season. Learning alongside the games best will only benefit the confident Weah who already notched his first international goal for the stars and stripes.
At the U-17 World Cup, Weah was explosive with his highlight being a sensational hat-trick against Paraguay. His attacking teammate at that World Cup, Josh Sargent is another American in that class to keep an eye on.
#5 Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich smashed the MLS transfer record to sign the 17-year-old phenom. Already the face of Canadian football, Davies is a refugee from Ghana, whose journey to the top has been closely followed.
His blistering pace and mazy dribbling have bamboozled MLS defenders this season and many are eager to see if he can do the same in Germany. Davies is the youngest player ever to play for Canada and the youngest player ever to score for the Canucks.
#4 Weston McKennie
The man that looks set to be given the keys to the United States midfield is Texan Weston McKennie. A midfield warrior who is developing a knack for goals, McKennie is fearless and with each game, he is becoming more important for both club and country. Just last week McKennie scored his first ever goal for Schalke in the Champions League. His goal was a last-minute winner away in Moscow, a city notoriously difficult for away teams to play in. Three days later the 20-year old followed that up with a smart finish as Schalke won in the Bundesliga. Behind Mc Kennie is Red Bulls workhorse Tyler Adams who expected to make his jump to Europe soon.
#3 Christian Pulisic
At 20 years old Christian Pulisic is already America's best player in some eyes he is America's best ever player. The top three on this list were very difficult to separate and Pulisic could have easily been first on a different day. The Dortmund attacking midfielder/winger is supremely gifted and glides past players with ease, his decision making is extremely mature and he has the personality to handle the pressure that comes with being America's superstar. Disappointingly we could not witness his brilliance at the World Cup but expect Pulisic to not make that mistake the next time around..
#2 Leon Bailey
Leon Bailey is a player for the fans. The Jamaican has all the tricks and flicks in the book and with each new move, his already high price tag keeps getting higher. Linked to all the top Premier League clubs it seems a matter of when and not if he comes to England. The former Belgium Young Player of the Year, an award won by Axel Witel and Vincent Kompany, Bailey's potential is sky high. His boisterous handler Craig Butler knew he had a platinum payer on his hands when they both left the Carribean island years ago.
#1 Hirving Lozano
The Mexican wonderkid announced himself onto the world scene when he scored the goal that saw his country humble the then world champions Germany in Russia. "Chucky" as the attacker is known, is unstoppable when in the mood. Playing just under 50 games in Europe Lozano has scored a remarkable 28 goals and laid on 13 assists for PSV.
With Mino Raiola reportedly behind Chucky, a big money move to Europe's elite is inevitable. In the meantime, Lozano will try to navigate his PSV team out of a very difficult Champions League group. Fellow Mexican youngster Erick Gutierrez also joined PSV in the summer, while Diego Lainez is following in Lozano's footsteps.
