English
Español
Our Unsung Hero series moves towards Canada, an overlooked host nation that has a high octane midfielder up its sleeve: Ismaël Koné
Canada is the third host nation of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, and arguably the weakest on paper. According to sportsbooks on sites like AskGamblers, Canada is the least favored among the three North American hosts.
As such, Jesse Marsch’s side will need to capitalize on every opportunity. Group B is one in which Canada could just as realistically finish at the top as it could the bottom. Qatar, Switzerland, and either Italy, Wales, Bosnia Herzegovina, or Northern Ireland stand in the way of the path to qualification.
Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images
In recent years, Canada has undergone somewhat of a soccer revolution. Talks of a “golden generation” have been backed up with strong performances in 2025, including standout victories over Wales and Romania in addition to a triumph over the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League third place match.
Canada also earned draws against Colombia and Ecuador, before closing the year with a solid 2–0 win over Venezuela. The results showed that Canada is no longer a one-trick pony in CONCACAF and can compete with European and South American opposition.
Still, major questions remain for Marsch, with the chief among them being whether his team’s strong defensive run can hold up at the World Cup. Canada closed 2025 with five clean sheets in six matches, and now operating in a classic 4-4-2, one player has emerged as a central figure for the national side and a name to watch ahead of 2026: Ismaël Koné.
The Lowdown on Ismaël Koné
Koné is a high octane midfielder who plays the game at full throttle. His impact is built on energy, physicality, and constant movement, thriving in box-to-box roles where he presses aggressively, wins duels, and turns defense into attack in seconds.
On the ball, Koné is direct and assertive, preferring to drive forward and break lines rather than slow the tempo. He’s not about flash or control for control’s sake. His value lies in momentum, edge, and intensity, giving any midfield a gritty bite.
At 23 playing in Serie A with Sassuolo, Koné has the kind of profile that could turn heads during the tournament. The Ivory Coast-born midfielder is also a World Cup veteran, having featured in all three of Canada’s matches at the 2022 World Cup. Since 2023, he has grown into a regular starter in the heart of the midfield.
Club Path
Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Koné began his career in MLS with CF Montréal, before transferring to EFL Championship side Watford in 2022. Two solid seasons with the Hornets earned him a move to Marseille, though he’d struggle to cement a spot in the starting XI. A loan spell with Rennes provided minutes, but a move to Sassuolo ahead of the 2025-26 season is where Koné’s game truly found its footing.
He’s enjoyed the best season of his young career in Italy, scoring four goals in league play, and his loan became permanent in February 2026. With the World Cup approaching, Koné’s elevated form could not have come at a more ideal time.
Grinding with Canada
For the national team, Koné has four goals in 37 caps. Perhaps his most memorable came at the 2024 Copa América, where his partial equalizer against Uruguay helped Canada secure a fourth-place finish — an outcome few would have predicted.
Koné also scored in Canada’s final match of 2025 against Venezuela, a game that ended with him being sent off. Throughout Canada’s impressive run of friendly results in 2025, he started every match from September onward.
Canada remains something of a mystery heading into 2026. It’s a team beginning to gel at exactly the right moment in its history, and while the big three of Alphonso Davies, Johnathan David, and Tajon Buchanan garner most of the headlines, keep an eye on Koné, who could very well be the secret to the nation’s success this summer.