Daniel Evans

Built @ScoutingStatsAI ⚽️📊

[Scouting Stats @ScoutingStatsAI]

World Cup 2026 - Predicted XIs 🧵

A projected starting XI for all 48 nations: formation, first-choice team and first backup in each position, every player tier-rated by our model.

Think we've got one wrong? Build your own XI for any nation.

Group A 👇

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

Trying out some new automated match preview graphics ahead of the World Cup.

Brazil v Egypt friendly kicking off in a min - lineups, team and national player form.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

The World Cup can be a notoriously hard tournament to bet, and a big reason is the data itself: national-team form is built on wildly uneven opposition. A dominant qualifying record out of CONCACAF or Asia isn't the same as one ground out through Europe or South America, so raw international numbers flatter some sides and undersell others.

With that caveat, here are four of the favourites and how their teams and key players are tracking into the tournament, on a per-game basis. Two windows: club form is this season (league, domestic cup and continental), and the national-team form looks back across roughly the last two years of qualifiers, continental games and friendlies.

One pattern worth flagging for the player markets: a player's importance to his club doesn't always carry over to his country.

Useful context for team totals and player props alike, as long as you weight the opposition.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

Cheatsheets for all 48 World Cup teams 👇🏼

[Scouting Stats @ScoutingStatsAI]

World Cup 2026 - Country & Club Form 🧵

A pre-tournament snapshot for all 48 nations, group by group.

Each card has two halves: national-team form over the past two years of qualifiers, continental games and friendlies (team form + top players in a national shirt, ranked across all 48).

Then each squad's club form this season across league, domestic cup and continental competition.

All leaderboards are scoped to the confirmed squads.

Opponent difficulty varies by region, so a strong CONCACAF or Asian ranking generally came against softer opposition on average than a UEFA one.

Group A 👇

[Scouting Stats @ScoutingStatsAI]

We've opened up free access to the full player database for World Cup 2026.

All 1,248 players. All 48 squads. Every one rolled up across their whole club season, with the option to switch to country form. 40+ metrics, sortable and filterable by position, competition, age and minutes, totals or per 90.

See exactly who's in form heading into the tournament, then build your own top-10 graphic from any stat.

Free → https://t.co/kGxivqm7f4

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@Plastician Not watched loads of him, but he's got great attacking output. Looks like he's lacking aerially based on this though, might put bigger clubs off. Hopefully he can improve there cos the rest of his game looks solid.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

With Elliot Anderson off to Manchester City, I ran my similar players model against him to see which other targets Manchester United might be looking at as an alternative. Scoped to players of a similar calibre and U25.

Reassuring to see Mateus Fernandes on the list, with all the transfer noise around him. Alex Scott another interesting name here, amongst others.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@Plastician Yeah could be a similar situation there. I remember the clamour for Enzo to play last time around, then once he got in he never looked back.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@Plastician Could be one of their better signings, might not be saying much mind!

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

With the World Cup starting in just over a week, I've put my own player rating model to work, run across every player in the tournament.

The result is a quick read on the genuine calibre of a player rather than a number driven by reputation or one good month.

The model covers every player at the tournament: all 48 squads, 26 players each, fresh data with the confirmed squads, provided they've played at senior level. Each one tagged with their tier and stars, and a link through to their full profile.

Group A is a good place to start. Co-hosts Mexico, a Son-led South Korea, a Czech Republic side back after a 20-year absence, and a young South Africa team most are writing off. One of the most open groups in the draw.

Worth a look before the opener on the 11th: https://t.co/m58EAzVGvv

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

Expecting England to line up like this in the opener v Croatia.

Made this with a lineup builder I developed - can build your own for England (or any other nation) here: https://t.co/EEECW8PJTy

[Scouting Stats @ScoutingStatsAI]

A player to watch in this World Cup: Kerim Alajbegović.

18 years old. The highest-rated player in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, ahead of every senior pro in the league. 9 league goals from the left wing for a Salzburg side that also played Champions League qualifying and Europa League football, where he chipped in 2 more.

The profile is a wide forward who shoots a lot and wins his battles. Look at the scatter: among U23 wingers and attackers across the top 5 leagues and Austria, only Lamine Yamal takes more shots while winning duels at his rate.

96th percentile for goals and shots, 91st for duels, top 10% for touches and final-third passes. He carries, he creates, he finishes. The one gap is aerially, which at 5ft10 and 18 is no surprise.

⚠️ Epect adjustment to his numbers once the teenager is playing in a top league.

He has already delivered on the big stage too: the decisive penalty against Wales, an assist for Džeko, and a goal in the shootout against Italy to send Bosnia to the World Cup.

Leverkusen have triggered their €8m buy-back, so he heads back to Germany this summer. That fee already looks like a steal, with whispers of €25-30m should he bounce from B04.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@David_Ornstein @TheAthleticFC Should be a great fit for Everton

[Scouting Stats @ScoutingStatsAI]

Hayden Hackney is the best midfielder few outside the Championship watched this season.

Player of the Year. 6 goals, 8 assists. Carried a chaotic Boro side to a play-off final.

He won't be in the Championship next season. The only question is where he lands.

🧵

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@Ruben_GarAL He’s at the Silver level, so he’s not rated that high. 1 Star Gold is better than 5 Star Silver.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@LiamPaulCanning Not watched too much of him, but not against it. Hopefully he adjusts to the prem.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

Possible England squad for World Cup, give or take a couple of uncertainties.

No Palmer, Maguire or MGW the main surprises for me - especially when you look at some of the inclusions.

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

I don’t trust Tuchel man

[David Ornstein @David_Ornstein]

🚨 Ivan Toney recalled to England squad for 2026 World Cup. 30yo Al Ahli striker rewarded for 42 goals + 11 assists in 37 #AlAhli appearances across all competitions this season. Former Brentford forward not involved for #ENG since last June @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/6SvjVamotL

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

World Cup squads are now being announced, so I'll be making updates to feed into a new 'World Cup Hub' on @ScoutingStatsAI

From here you'll be able to view squads, predicted lineups, fixtures and stats as the competition kicks off.

I've also pulled historical world cup data to create a timeline of each nation's performance over the past 25 years.

Brazil's announcement raised some eyebrows with no Joao Pedro included, but hopefully Neymar can roll back the years and stay fit!

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

@Jonochun @Vibraboot Eventually yeah, it’s being worked on but the initial release will be 2D

[Daniel Evans @DEvansData]

Here's a 60 seconds of match gameplay from a web based Football Manager sim I'm building (@Vibraboot )

Beta will be out soon for anyone interested in getting involved!