What is the World Cup 2026 Young Player award? Six key facts
Before you start placing bets on the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award, it is essential to have a clear understanding of exactly how the award works. With that in mind, here are six key facts you need to know:
- The FIFA World Cup Young Player Award is open to any player who was 21 years old or younger on January 1st 2026.
- The FIFA Technical Study Group will compile a shortlist for the award in the final week of the tournament.
- When compiling the shortlist, the FIFA Technical Study Group will consider players’ overall performances during the tournament.
- The award winner will be announced on the day of the World Cup final.
- Unlike some other FIFA World Cup awards, there are no second or third place positions for the Young Player Award.
- The award was first introduced at the 2006 World Cup, although FIFA did conduct a retrospective vote to establish winners for every tournament since 1958.
Who are the previous winners of the FIFA Young Player Award?
There have been five previous winners of the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award– three forwards and two midfielders. The first two winners were German, the next two were French, and the current holder is Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernández. Both Fernández and the previous winner (Kylian Mbappé) played for the nation that won the World Cup in that year; however, that was not the case for any of the previous three winners.
Whilst it’s difficult to read too much into the award's short history, it does appear that the voting committee tends to favour attack-minded players. And whilst you don’t have to play for the winning team to receive the award, all five winners have reached at least the quarter-final stage. In other words, midfielders or strikers who play for strong nations have the best chance of success.
Here’s a snapshot of the previous award winners:
| Year | Winner | Position | Country |
| 2006 | Lukas Podolski | Forward | Germany |
| 2010 | Thomas Müller | Forward | Germany |
| 2014 | Paul Pogba | Midfielder | France |
| 2018 | Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France |
| 2022 | Enzo Fernández | Midfielder | Argentina |
What are the best sites for picking the FIFA young player award?
Finding the best platform is always the hardest choice, especially with the FIFA World Cup coming up. Your choice can completely change depending on where you're located and your personal taste.
Traditional sportsbooks give you real-money wagering and locked-in fixed odds.While Social sportsbooks let you use virtual currency using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, making them great if real-money betting is not available in your state. Prediction markets are not sportsbooks at all work by letting you trade contracts on real life outcomes, meaning you buy and sell positions as the market shifts.
Your best choice comes down to whether you want to wager cash, play socially, or trade probabilities.
Top sites for picking the Fifa young player award at a glance
| Site | Type of Site | Welcome Bonus |
| DraftKings | Traditional sportsbook | $100 in instant bonus bets after a $5 wager |
| Legendz | Social sportsbook | 500 Gold Coins and 3 free Sweeps Coins |
| Thrillzz | Social sportsbook | 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 2 free Thrillzz Sweeps |
| Bracco | Social sportsbook | 10,000 Bracco Coins and 5 free Bracco Cash |
| Kalshi | Prediction market | Trade $10 get $10 in bonus trades |
| Polymarket | Prediction market | Deposit $20 get $50 in bonus trades (not a predictions market specific bonus) |
Top real money sportsbook for betting on the FIFA young player award
First, we have our tried and true traditional real-money sportsbooks that operate under highly regulated, state-based gaming licenses. Because of this, they are completely legit and must abide by strict regulations when it comes to fair fixed odds. They also give you access to features like same-game parlays, extensive live betting markets, and direct cash withdrawals if your pick brings home the trophy. Here is our top choice for betting on the FIFA young player award.
DraftKings
DraftKings Sport In A Nutshell
If you're looking to place a wager on the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award, DraftKings is my go-to pick. It's one of the biggest sportsbooks in the US, and for good reason. The coverage of their World Cup markets is absolutely impressive. Whether you want to back Lamine Yamal for the top spot, shop around for a chance on a dark horse, or combine your Young Player pick into a same-game parlay or with a overall tournament winner, DraftKings has you sorted.
New bettors can grab a welcome bonus of $100 in instant bonus bets after placing a $5 wager when they sign up through our link. Besides the sign-up bonus, punters can get additional bonuses throughout the tournament with profit boosts, early win promos, and free-to-play Pools, so there is a bit going on.
Live betting is a strong point here too, which means you can react in real time as the tournament unfolds. The app is quick as a whistle and easy to get around with just a tap, and DraftKings is available in 27 states across the US. If you want a fully-fledged, real-money sportsbook for the World Cup, this is a great choice all around.
How To Sign Up
- Visit the DraftKings website or download the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Click on the “Sign Up” button, usually located in the upper right corner of the website or app.
- Enter your personal details and choose a unique username.
- Create a secure password. It must be at least 10 characters long and include at least one letter, one number, and one special character.
- Click “Create Account” or “Continue” to finalize the registration process.
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Best social sportsbooks for making picks for the FIFA young player award
For our next top choice for platforms to pick the FIFA young player award we have our social sportsbooks. These are a great option if your in a state where real money sportsbooks are not allowed to operate. The best thing about these social sportsbooks is that they are free to play as they use the Sweepstakes model with Gold Coins used to entertainment only play or you can switch it up to Sweeps Coins giving you a chance to redeem them for real prizes.
You wont find any traditional no deposit bonuses here as they don't allow deposits of real money but if you do decide that you want to give your balance a bump up you can grab one of the Gold Coin bundle purchases for some Gold Coins that come with some Sweeps Coins for free as a bonus. These are non compulsory as these social sportsbooks have ongoing bonuses for extra Gold Coins and Sweeps coins like daily login bonuses, Mail in requests and more.
Here are our stand out choices for Social Sportsbooks for the FIFA world cup.
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Legendz
Legendz Casino In A Nutshell
Legendz is one of the better social sportsbooks out there for World Cup bettors, and it's a top choice if you want to get in on the Young Player Award action for free. The platform runs on the sweepstakes model, meaning you're placing social picks using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which makes it a great way to back your favorite country in the upcoming World Cup tournament.
To get you started as a new bettor, Legendz is throwing 500 Gold Coins and 3 free Sweeps Coins your way once you have signed up and verified your account. It's not the biggest welcome bonus out there, but it is a great way for you to get your foot in the door. They also have a social casino tied into the app for players who want to escape the field and try out some spinning reels instead.
The World Cup market coverage at Legendz spans all the major sports contests, and the interface is clean and easy to use whether you're on desktop or the mobile app. Legendz is available across most of the US, making it one of the more widely available social sportsbooks in the space. If you want to bet socially on the Young Player Award without spending a cent, Legendz is well worth signing up for.
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Sign Up' on the homepage. Create a username, email address, password. Click 'Continue'.
- Enter personal details such as your name, address and phone number.
- Check your email and verify your account.
- Redeem your welcome offer and start playing your favorite games!
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Thrillzz
Thrillzz In A Nutshell
Thrillzz is a social sportsbook that keeps things exciting with sign-up and ongoing bonuses, which makes it a nice fit for World Cup picks like the Young Player Award. The social sportsbook has sports contests for all major tournaments, and new social bettors can get started with 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 2 free Thrillzz Sweeps just for signing up.
Thrillzz is available in over 40 US states, and the site has a simple layout that just gets the job done without any lag. They are a mobile-first social sportsbook, giving social bettors the ideal experience if you choose either their dedicated iOS or Android apps.
It doesn't have the same street cred as some of the big dogs in the social sportsbook space, but it does what it needs to do, and the World Cup is a great time to try it out. If you're after a hassle-free way to place social picks on award markets, Thrillzz is a decent shout.
How To Sign Up
- Visit the Website: Navigate to the official Thrillzz website on your desktop or mobile browser.
- Click on “Sign Up”: Look for the “Join Now” button, found at the top right corner.
- Provide your personal information, email address, and create a secure password.
- Verify your email address and complete any KYC requirements.
- Once signed up, you’ll automatically receive your free Thrillzz Coins and Sweeps!
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Top prediction markets for FIFA young player award trades
Last but not least, we have prediction markets. These CFTC-regulated platforms have been making waves lately, but they are not sportsbooks. Instead, they function more like a financial platform where you trade contracts on real-world outcomes. These event contracts can be on things like political outcomes, the weather, economic changes, and there are even niche markets like if someone is going to say a specific word during a sporting press conference.
Prediction markets let you trade contracts on the FIFA World Cup and all of its awards, including the Golden Glove, Golden Boot, and the Young Player Award. The way these work is that Yes/No contracts are always priced between $0.01 and $1, and the price determines what the market popularity is at that moment. Markets shift as things happen, so you can sell your trades if things are not going your way, or you can wait to settle if the outcome looks good. These are our top choices for FIFA Young Player Award prediction markets.
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Kalshi
Kalshi In A Nutshell
Kalshi is the biggest regulated prediction market in the US, and if you want to trade on World Cup outcomes, including the Young Player Award, this is the way to do it. Rather than placing bets, you're buying and selling event contracts based on how you think it will turn out. If you think Pau Cubarsí from Spain will take out the Young Player Award, you trade a contract on that outcome. If your view changes mid-tournament, you can sell that trade and adjust your position.
Kalshi is regulated by the CFTC, which makes it one of the most legit prediction market platforms available to US users. New users currently receive $10 in bonus trades after making a $10 first trade. The platform is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada), though this can change in the future with shifting regulations, and it is fully accessible via desktop or its iOS and Android apps.
What sets Kalshi apart from a traditional sportsbook is the peer-to-peer market pricing. Probabilities shift in real time based on trader activity, which means sharp traders can find undervalued markets if they're willing to do their research. For the World Cup, it's a great way to put your soccer knowledge to work.
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Polymarket
Polymarket In A Nutshell
Polymarket is the biggest prediction market in the world by trading volume, and it's back in the US after a hiatus just in the nick of time for the World Cup. Polymarket's market coverage, just as we mentioned before, is one of the most extensive out there, and they have event contracts to prove it with award markets like the Young Player Award and even markets like which continent will take out the World Cup this year.
Polymarket officially relaunched its regulated US exchange under CFTC oversight and recently dropped its waitlist, opening the doors to all American iOS users who complete standard identity verification. They kind of have a bonus of "deposit $20 get $50 as a bonus" for new traders, but this is not for prediction markets exclusively, as the platform is much larger than that.
The platform is crypto-based, which is not for everyone, but if you're wanting to give it a shot, they do help make it clearer. You can make deposits via major cards and a few other methods, but these are converted to USDC on the backend. If you are wanting to give Polymarket a shot now that it's back in the US, there is no time like the World Cup to make sporting predictions.
Who will win the young player award? Assessing the main contenders
The World Cup is going to be absolutely stacked with contenders for the Young Player Award. Here are just five of the top contenders to pick up the honour:
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Why he will win: Given the fact that Lamine Yamal is one of the favorites for the Golden Ball Award (given to the best overall player at the tournament), it is no surprise to see his name at the top of the odds list for the Young Player Award. Simply put, the Barca winger/forward is one of the best players in the world, and as he showed at Euro 2024, he loves performing on the big stage.
Why he won’t win: The one potential concern for anyone looking to back Yamal is his recent hamstring injury. Whilst Spain are optimistic that he will be fit in time for their opening games against Cape Verde on June 15th, the fact that Barcelona have ruled him out for the rest of the La Liga season suggests that Yamal may not be 100% fit for the start of the tournament.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (France)
Why he will win: Despite having the likes of Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz alongside him, Zaïre-Emery has looked right at home in the Paris Saint-Germain midfield over the last two seasons. His dynamic club form has been replicated on the international stage, and he has already made himself a key part of Didier Deschamps’ squad.
Why he won’t win: Given the stacked nature of the French midfield, there’s no guarantee that Zaïre-Emery will be a regular starter at the tournament. If the 20 year old finds himself behind Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and co in the pecking order, his chances of picking up the Young Player Award will diminish considerably.
Désiré Doué (France)
Why he will win: Like Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué has already established himself as a key part of the all-conquering PSG squad and one of the most talented young players in the world. The 20 year old winger was on fire in last season’s Champions League final, and a string of fine displays this season have earned him a call-up to the French squad.
Why he won’t win: Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé are just some of the elite attacking names in the France squad. So whilst Doué might be one of the most gifted young stars at the tournament, he could find himself limited to substitute appearances.
Endrick (Brazil)
Why he will win: A few months ago, Endrick looked a long shot to make the Brazil squad, but a hugely impressive loan spell at Lyon has revitalised his young career and earned him a recall to the national side. With fellow starlet Estêvão missing the tournament through injury, Endrick looks set to be a key part of the Brazil team this summer.
Why he won’t win: Consistency has been a big issue for Enrick so far in his young career. He flattered to deceive in his limited opportunities at Real Madrid, and whilst he has been tearing it up in Ligue 1, his displays for Lyon in the Europa League have been somewhat less impressive. It remains to be seen which version of Endrick will appear in North America this summer.
Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
Why he will win: Spain are many people’s favorites (including mine!) to win the World Cup, and if that happens, Barcelona centre half Pau Cubarsí is likely to be pivotal to their success. The teenager is already the lynchpin of the Barca backline and has performed superbly for the national side since earning his first call-up in 2024.
Why he won’t win: As I outlined previously, defenders don’t tend to win the Young Player Award. So whilst Cubarsi may be an integral part of the Spanish team, there’s a strong chance that voters will shun him in favor of some of his more attack-minded teammates.
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What to look for when betting on the FIFA Young Player Award?
Whether you want to back one of the five players I’ve highlighted or make your own pick for the Young Player Award, always consider these vital factors before placing your bet:
🤕 Injuries
Lamine Yamal is already facing a race against time to make the tournament, and with a month of the domestic season still to play, there’s every chance that one of the other favorites for the award could pick up a serious knock before June.
Double check to make sure that your chosen player is fully fit before placing your bet.
💪 Team strength
You might think that Haiti’s teenage forward is the best young player in the world (Spoiler alert: He’s not), but as Haiti are unlikely to reach the latter stages of the World Cup, he’s unlikely to be in the running for the Young Player Award. Focus your attention on players from countries that are tipped to reach at least the quarter-finals of the competition.
📝 Team selection
A young player can have all the talent in the world, but if he doesn’t fit in with his manager’s plans or he’s competing with a world class baller for a starting spot, then he’s got no chance of winning the Young Player Award. Look at likely formations and recent lineups to see if your chosen player is likely to be in the starting eleven.
🎉 Betting offers
Last but not least, the best way to maximize the value of your FIFA Young Player Award bet is by taking advantage of World Cup 2026 betting offers. These promotions can come in the form of enhanced odds, deposit bonuses or even free bets. Read WagerTalk’s expert guides to discover the very best 2026 World Cup betting offers.
Pros and cons of betting on the FIFA World Cup 2026 Young Player award
To round off this guide, here are the main pros and cons of betting on the FIFA Young Player Award:
- High-value options
- Adds extra enjoyment to your World Cup viewing
- Use your soccer knowledge to win bets
- Injuries and loss of form can impact the market
Final thoughts- A great way to enhance your enjoyment of World Cup 2026
This is one of the most fascinating award categories at this year’s World Cup. Obviously, Lamine Yamal is the clear favorite, but given his injury status, I would not be surprised to see one of the other names on my list pick up the award.
If you are looking to place a wager on the Young Player Award, remember to read WagerTalk’s expert bonus guides before placing your bet. Once you’ve found an offer you want to take advantage of, click our banners to create an account.
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Who will win the young player award? FAQs
🇸 Who is the favorite for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Young Player Award?
Assuming he recovers from his current injury, Spain’s Lamine Yamal will be the bookmakers’ favorite for the award.
🇷 Who won the Young Player Award at the last World Cup?
The 2022 World Cup Young Player Award went to Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández.
Which betting site should I use for my Young Player Award wager?
A lot of betting sites are likely to be offering excellent bonuses for the World Cup. Make sure you read the expert bonus guides here at WagerTalk before deciding which site to use for your Young Player Award wager.