From Sehitler to Armstrong: 10 female footballers set for breakthrough in 2026

The world of women's football is on the cusp of a breakthrough. A new generation of talented players is poised to take center stage, with many set to make their mark at international competitions in 2026.

At the forefront of this movement are ten exceptional females who have already made significant impacts in their respective leagues and nations. Alara Sehitler, a creative midfielder for Bayern Munich and Germany, has been an integral part of José Barcala's side, scoring crucial goals and sparking comebacks in the Champions League.

Another player making waves is Giulia Galli, a 17-year-old forward from Roma and Italy who has established herself as one of the best young talents in Italian football. Her impressive debut season for Roma saw her score her first club goal and feature prominently in the Champions League.

The USA's Trinity Armstrong is also one to watch, having had an outstanding debut season with San Diego Wave. The 18-year-old center-back was ever-present in Jonas Eidevall's starting lineup and scored a crucial goal in their playoff push.

Meanwhile, Australia's Daniela Galic is an attacking midfielder who has shown plenty of potential playing for Vittsjö in Sweden. Her successful Young Matildas career underlines her talent, and with the Asian Cup on the horizon, she'll be keen to force her way into the senior squad.

Paula Comendador, a 18-year-old forward from Real Madrid and Spain, has been consistently one of the most prolific goalscorers in youth football. Her impressive performances at both under-17 and under-19 level have earned her a silver medal, golden boot, and silver ball at the 2024 Under-17 Women's World Cup.

Montserrat Saldívar, a winger for Club América and Mexico, has already broken out in a big way. With over 100 appearances for Liga MX Femenil under her belt, she played an integral role in Mexico's run to the round of 16 at the 2024 Under-20 World Cup and scored eight goals as they secured the silver medal.

Wassa Sangaré, a young central defender from London City Lionesses and France, has made a bright start to life in the Women's Super League. Her impressive performances have earned her nine consecutive league starts, and her success at youth level for France has made her a mainstay of the senior team.

In Canada, Kaylee Hunter is a talented forward who was at the heart of AFC Toronto's success in winning the inaugural NSL Supporters' Shield. Her performances caught the eye of Casey Stoney, and she received her first call-up to the national team, although she yet to make her debut.

Finally, Lucia Kendall, an 21-year-old midfielder from Aston Villa and England, has found herself propelled into the spotlight after making the move to the WSL. Her impressive debut for England against Ghana saw her score a crucial goal, and she's set to play a key role in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

these girls are literally changing the game! its so inspiring to see all these talented young players coming through they're not just good at footy, they're leaders, game-changers, and total boss ladies i love that they're all breaking barriers and making their mark on international competitions in 2026 can't wait to see them compete and crush it!

These new gen players are gonna change the game!! Alara Sehitler is on fire , Giulia Galli is literally the future of Italian football , and Paula Comendador's goal-scoring record is insane ! I'm hyped to see these talented ladies take center stage at the 2026 international competitions. Trinity Armstrong from the USA is gonna be a superstar , Daniela Galic's got the skills , Montserrat Saldívar is a Mexican football icon , Wassa Sangaré's defense is solid , Kaylee Hunter's speed is unmatched ️! And Lucia Kendall's England debut was lit , can't wait to see what she does next!

omg these girls r literally gonna take over ! i'm so hyped 4 alara sehitler, she's been on fire in german league & champs lol. & giulia galli is only 17 but already makin waves in italian football meanwhile, trinity armstrong & montserrat saldívar r both rockstars cant wait to see more of these talented females crush it on the pitch

These young ladies are going to change the game for sure! I mean, can you believe Alara Sehitler has already made a name for herself in the Champions League? And it's not just about Bayern Munich, she's doing her country proud too. The level of talent coming out of these leagues is insane! Giulia Galli's debut season is straight fire and Trinity Armstrong is giving me LIFE with that San Diego Wave squad. Daniela Galic is another one I'm loving, her potential is off the charts . And have you seen Paula Comendador in action? She's a goal-scoring machine! ️ The future of women's football is bright and it's amazing to see these young players taking center stage. Bring on 2026 and let's see what they can do!

So many talented players gonna get burned out from all the hype . Bayern Munich's Alara Sehitler might struggle with consistency, her team's got some serious expectations on them. And Giulia Galli, being 17, is already feeling too much pressure? She's been decent so far but can she keep it up for a whole season? Also, Trinity Armstrong from the USA, what's with all these American footballers suddenly dominating women's soccer? Is the US really that behind on this sport?

Meanwhile, Daniela Galic from Australia seems alright, but I mean, who gets too much attention just because they played in some youth tournament? And Paula Comendador from Spain is already a superstar at 18... maybe she'll lose her magic soon. It's gonna be super interesting to see how these players handle the spotlight .

I'm not holding my breath for these young ladies to live up to expectations lol I mean, it's great that they're getting all this attention now, but what about when the bubble bursts? Will they be able to handle the pressure of international competitions and maintain their form? And let's not forget, a lot of them are still super young - 17, 18, 21... they've got a long way to go before they can even think about being considered among the best. I'm just waiting for someone to get injured or have a disappointing game and then everyone will be like "oh no, what happened?"

Ugh, can't believe I'm on this forum anymore . Every time there's a big female football story, it's always the same players who get featured. Don't get me wrong, Alara Sehitler and Giulia Galli are super talented, but why do they always have to be the ones in the spotlight? It feels like we're stuck in some sort of repetitive narrative . Meanwhile, other teams' players are just quietly doing their thing... like Daniela Galic for Vittsjö. She's not getting any love on here, despite being part of the Young Matildas and having a sick game at the 2024 Under-17 Women's World Cup .

And can we please talk about the lack of diversity in these articles? Paula Comendador from Real Madrid is always being lauded as some kind of superstar, but what about players from other leagues or countries? It feels like the same old Euro-centric narrative is still going strong . I mean, I get it, football (or soccer) is a global sport and all that, but can't we mix it up a bit more?

Oh, and one more thing... why do these articles always have to be so long and exhaustive? Can't we just have a good 5-paragraph piece about some exciting young players without having to go into all the stats and accolades? It's exhausting reading through all that stuff .

omg these players r so talented ! alara sehitler is like a genius on the field , i'm loving Giulia Galli's debut season for roma and trinity armstrong is giving me all the feels with her goals paula comendador is killing it in youth football and montserrat saldivar's Liga MX Femenil record is insane gotta keep an eye on these young players, they're gonna change the game

These young ladies are gonna shake things up in women's football for sure! I mean, we've already seen some of them kill it on the big stage, like Alara Sehitler's crucial goals in the Champions League... and now they're all set to bring their A-game to the 2026 international competitions. It's like a whole new wave of talent is taking over . I'm hyped to see how they'll perform against each other - it's gonna be interesting to see who rises to the top . One thing for sure, though: we're in for a treat with these fearless females taking center stage!

I'm so excited for the future of women's football! The young players mentioned in this article are absolute stars and it's amazing to see them breaking barriers and making a name for themselves in their respective leagues and nations . I think what's most impressive is how these talented girls are already achieving incredible things at such a young age, which just goes to show that the hard work and dedication they're putting in is paying off .

As a parent, it's amazing to see my little ones growing up with role models like these who can inspire them to chase their dreams and never give up on their passions . The fact that we have so many talented young players in different countries around the world just makes me feel proud of where I come from . Bring on 2026 and watch out for these incredible female footballers!