Player Hidden Gems From Group H

With 16 extra teams and 40 additional matches, this year’s World Cup hidden gems will have a much larger spotlight shining on them than usual.

While every group contains players ready to break out onto the global scene, Group H arguably has some of the tournament’s brightest talents. Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde all possess players who may not be household names yet, but could soon become exactly that.

Here are five World Cup hidden gems you need to keep an eye on.

Álex Baena – Spain

When discussing Spain’s midfield and attack, most conversations revolve around Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal. But one of Spain’s World Cup hidden gems doesn’t play for the Spanish big two.

Atlético Madrid’s Álex Baena is a player manager Luis de la Fuente absolutely loves.

Following a phenomenal 2024-25 campaign with Villarreal, where he led La Liga in chances created, Baena secured a major $48 million move to Atlético Madrid ahead of the 2025-26 season. While players such as Pedri and Fabián Ruiz attract headlines through their flair, Baena offers a different profile.

During the 2025-26 La Liga season, Baena logged 1,572 minutes across 27 appearances for Atlético. He contributed two goals and three assists while posting an expected assists (xA) figure of 6.08, highlighting how frequently he places teammates into dangerous scoring positions.

He can operate as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, left winger, or even drift into deeper creative areas when required. Against defensive opponents such as Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, who are expected to spend long stretches defending in compact blocks, Baena, most likely as a super sub, could become the key that unlocks defenses.

His move to Atlético has not produced the same spectacular numbers he generated at Villarreal, but international tournaments often favor players with his unpredictability.

Whether starting or coming off the bench, Baena remains one of the most fascinating World Cup hidden gems in Group H.

Logan Costa – Cape Verde

For a nation making its first-ever World Cup appearance, defensive stability is everything. For Cape Verde, a man that will be quite important in that regard is Logan Costa.

Following a $20 million transfer from Toulouse to Villarreal in the summer of 2024, Costa has become one of the key factors for the Yellow Submarine’s resurgence. During the 2025-26 campaign, he played a major role in Villarreal finishing third in La Liga with 72 points, comfortably ahead of Atlético Madrid.

Standing 6-foot-3, Costa is a dominant aerial presence who excels at defending set pieces and winning physical battles. That sort of quality will be invaluable against a team like Uruguay, who are expected to bombard with crosses and direct corners.

However, Costa has more to his game than defending. When Cape Verde absorbs pressure and looks to counterattack, it is often Costa who initiates the transition with long diagonal passes into wide areas. If Cape Verde hopes to produce one of the biggest upsets of the group stage, Logan Costa will almost certainly need to deliver performances worthy of that.

Musab Al-Juwayr – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s standout World Cup hidden gem is undoubtedly Musab Al-Juwayr.

The Al Qadsiah midfielder enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Saudi Pro League and has quickly established himself as one of the country’s most exciting young playmakers. Across 31 league appearances during the 2025-26 season, Al-Juwayr recorded six goals and eleven assists. He also created 20 big chances while maintaining an impressive 84 percent passing accuracy over more than 2,000 completed passes, according to FBRef.

Al-Juwayr has also quickly become a central figure for the national team. He has already scored six international goals, including three during Saudi Arabia’s World Cup qualifying campaign. By the end of 2025, he had started 22 consecutive matches for his country.

In a group featuring technically superior opponents such as Spain and Uruguay, Saudi Arabia will need players capable of controlling possession under pressure. Al-Juwayr may become the player who helps ease the pressure during tough situations.

Juan Manuel Sanabria – Uruguay

Marcelo Bielsa’s demanding system is not meant for everyone. It needs tireless workers willing to run until exhaustion. Juan Manuel Sanabria is one name that Bielsa can rely on to not let him down.

The Real Salt Lake star has quietly become one of the most reliable players in Bielsa’s setup. Comfortable as a full-back, wing-back, midfielder, or wide midfielder, Sanabria offers a lot of flexibility on the pitch.

His 2026 MLS campaign has showcased exactly why Bielsa values him so highly. By late May, Sanabria was averaging over 40 accurate passes per match while consistently contributing in both defensive and attacking phases. His work rate is relentless, and his willingness to press immediately after losing possession fits Bielsa’s ideology perfectly.

While opponents focus on containing Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and Manuel Ugarte, Sanabria can quietlly attempt to exploit the spaces created. The 2026 World Cup might just introduce him to a global audience.

Marc Pubill – Spain

Marc Pubill is the perfect archetype of the modern fullback. The young Spaniard has perfected his craft in both attack and defence. At just 23 years old, the Atlético Madrid defender has already developed into one of Spain’s most complete young players.

After helping Spain win Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, Pubill joined Atlético Madrid ahead of the 2025-26 season.

There is no better manager in the world to learn your defensive ropes under than Diego Simeone. Naturally, Pubill flourished.

He started more than 30 matches during the season, being instrumental up and down the flanks. Standing nearly 6-foot-3, he provides Spain with a physical profile that is different than what Marcos Llorente or Pedro Porro provides. Pubill frequently reaches the byline, delivers dangerous crosses, and creates width for teammates cutting inside.

In Spain’s system, where full-backs play a crucial role in creating overloads out wide, Pubill gives Luis de la Fuente another valuable weapon. And not to forget, Pubill can also play as a center-back. He may not receive the same attention as Lamine Yamal or Nico Williams, but do not be surprised if he leaves the tournament with significantly more recognition than he entered with.