World Cup

Vozinha selected by FIFA in the Team of the Tournament; First Simón and Cubarsí

24 July 2026·5 min read·Pilar Fernández
Vozinha selected by FIFA in the Team of the Tournament; First Simón and Cubarsí

FIFA announced the Team of the Tournament three days after the World Cup 2026 final. Unai Simón and Pau Cubarsí were left out, while 40-year-old Kaapverdiya Vozinha was chosen as the goalkeeper in a fan vote.

Vozinha selected by FIFA in Team of the Tournament; First Simón and Cubarsí

According to Vi.

Context

Unai Simón, who has been Spain's main goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup, was not included in the official Team of the Tournament despite his success. His exclusion highlighted the challenges of identifying players under unexpected circumstances, such as Vozinha's ascension from an underdog team. His future in international football will be important, especially as the next competitions approach.

Why it matters

Unai Simón's exclusion from FIFA's Team of the Tournament highlighted the controversial decisions in the World Cup 2026 awards. Despite his success as Keeper of the Tournament, the selection of Kaapverdiya's Vozinha showed the value of performances under pressure, especially for underdog teams. Such decisions can affect the players' reputation on the global stage.

Key Points

  • Vozinha selected by FIFA in the Team of the Tournament; First Simón and Cubarsí.
  • FIFA has revealed the official World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: Keeper of the Tournament Unai Simón and Young Player of the Tournament Pau Cubarsí are not included.
  • Vozinha houdt Simón uit WK-elftal FIFA, ook Cubarsí is missing.
Three days after the World Cup 2026 final, FIFA announced the official Team of the Tournament — and it immediately sparked discussion. Biggest of all: absent from the list is Unai Simón, the Spanish shot-stopper who won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award after Spain were crowned world champions. Instead, the in-form keeper was chosen as Kaapverdiya's 40-year-old Vozinha, who won international praise for a string of impressive saves for the debutant African nation. According to the announcement, the selection was made based on fan votes at the tournament itself — which makes it possible for some bias toward stars who have previously been strong with viewers, even if they weren't the official winners of the major individual awards. This is where Vozinha's story comes in: from Kaapverdiya's underdog story in their first World Cup, to his brilliant performances that brought him into the spotlight of the international scene. Another notable absentee was Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí. He was named the Young Player of the Tournament, but was still not included in the back line of the Team of the Tournament. Instead, the central defense was formed by France's Dayot Upamecano and Argentina's Lisandro Martínez. Among the fullbacks, both were selected from Spain: Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, both part of the new champion's successful campaign.
Image
In the middle, there was no surprise in the selection of Rodri — Spain captain and official Player of the Tournament — alongside France's Michael Olise and England's Jude Bellingham. The trio represented a combination of control, creation and goal threat that rose throughout the competition. Up front, two of the generation's biggest stars — Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé — will join Norwegian Erling Haaland. In this list, Harry Kane was left out, who despite his reputation and contribution did not reach the final cut of the fan vote. Team of the Tournament summary (FIFA fan vote): - Goalkeeper: Vozinha (Cape Verde) - Defense: Pedro Porro (Spain), Dayot Upamecano (France), Lisandro Martínez (Argentina), Marc Cucurella (Spain) - Midfield: Rodri (Spain), Michael Olise (France), Jude Bellingham (England) - Attack: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway) The result is sure to spark discussion, especially among Spain's supporters who will see the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award absent from the official best XI. However, it is clear that the fan vote values ​​the memory of the most vivid moments in the competition. Despite the controversy, this list is marked by new champions Spain's strong presence on the flanks and midfield, while familiar stars Messi and Mbappé — and newly-minted Kaapverdiya hero Vozinha — remain the center of attention.

What's next

As time goes on, discussions about exclusions from the Team of the Tournament may continue, especially if players like Unai Simón continue to show their skills in the next matches. Future tournaments, including the World Cup 2026, will give players a chance to prove their worth once again. The victories and defeats of the following years will surely be part of their future stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to FIFA's Team of the Tournament announcement?

FIFA announced the official Team of the Tournament three days after the final of the World Cup 2026, in which Unai Simón, the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, was not included, and Vozinha of Kaapverdiya was chosen instead.

Who has been chosen by FIFA as the Team's goalkeeper of the Tournament?

The choice of FIFA as the goalkeeper is Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalkeeper from Kaapverdiya.

Why was Unai Simón not included in the Team of the Tournament?

Unai Simón was not included in the Team of the Tournament as the selection was based on a fan vote at the tournament, which resulted in some unexpected selections.

What are the changes to the Team of the Tournament lineup compared to the awards?

The Team of the Tournament lineup does not include Pau Cubarsí, who was named Young Player of the Tournament, and the defense is composed of Dayot Upamecano and Lisandro Martínez.

What was the basis for the selection of players in the Tournament Team?

The selection of players to the Team of the Tournament was based on a fan vote at the tournament itself, which allowed some players who did not win major awards to be included.

Related News

Related News

Related News

Related News

Related News

Related News

Related News

Related News

Mga Madalas na Itanong

What happened to FIFA's Team of the Tournament announcement?
FIFA announced the official Team of the Tournament three days after the final of the World Cup 2026, in which Unai Simón, the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, was not included, and Vozinha of Kaapverdiya was selected instead.
Who has FIFA chosen as the goalkeeper in the Team of the Tournament?
FIFA's choice as goalkeeper is Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalkeeper from Kaapverdiya.
Why was Unai Simón not included in the Team of the Tournament?
Unai Simón was not included in the Team of the Tournament as the selection was based on a fan vote at the tournament, which resulted in some unexpected selections.
What are the changes to the Team of the Tournament lineup compared to the awards?
The Team of the Tournament lineup does not include Pau Cubarsí, who was named Young Player of the Tournament, and the defense is composed of Dayot Upamecano and Lisandro Martínez.
What was the basis of the selection of the players in the Team of the Tournament?
The selection of players to the Team of the Tournament was based on a fan vote at the tournament itself, which allowed some players who did not win major awards to be included.
What happened in this story?
Vozinha selected by FIFA in the Team of the Tournament; Unai Simón and Cubarsí summarizes the main developments covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.
World Cup 2026Mundial 2026SpanjeFrankrijkArgentiniëNoorwegenKaapverdiëLa TriBarcelonaUnai SimónVozinhaPau Cubarsí
https://azkalsgoal.com/en/news/vozinha-pinili-ng-fifa-sa-koponan-ng-torneo-unai-simon-at-cubarsi-hindi-kasama

Related Articles