Wrexham defenders Dom Hyam and Liberato Cacace are set to feature at the 2026 World Cup after becoming the first active players from the club to be called up to the same tournament. Both have spent recent weeks in camp with Scotland and New Zealand respectively as they prepare for football’s biggest stage.
It marks another milestone for a club that was playing National League football when the last World Cup was held in Qatar in 2022.
Since then, Wrexham’s rise under Phil Parkinson has transformed the profile of the squad, with two players now preparing to compete on the international stage while the club looks ahead to life in the Championship.
Before this summer, Dennis Lawrence had been the only active Wrexham player to appear at a World Cup, representing Trinidad and Tobago in 2006.
Dom Hyam used Scotland friendlies to build momentum
Hyam made his fourth senior appearance for Scotland during the final stages of their World Cup build-up.
The 30-year-old came off the bench in a 4-0 win over Bolivia in New Jersey. He had also featured during a 4-1 win against Curaçao as Steve Clarke finalised his plans for the tournament.
Having earned his first cap in 2023, Hyam had to wait nearly three years for his second appearance. His inclusion in the World Cup squad followed his first season at Wrexham.
Although he was not involved in Scotland’s opening group-stage fixture, Hyam remains an option as the campaign progresses.
His journey to the World Cup reflects both his own persistence and the progress made at the Racecourse Ground in recent years.
Liberato Cacace arrives as one of New Zealand’s key players
Cacace heads into the tournament with considerably more international experience. The left-back has already made 37 senior appearances for New Zealand and is expected to play a major role throughout the group stage.
He started warm-up matches against both Haiti and England. He played the first half against Haiti before completing an hour against England as preparations intensified.
New Zealand enter the competition as one of the tournament outsiders, but Cacace has spoken openly about the significance of reaching a World Cup.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play at a World Cup,” he told BBC Sport. “I’ve always wanted to play in one, and now, with everything behind me, I hope I can put on the shirt again and represent my nation on the biggest stage.”
He added that New Zealand will take the competition one game at a time as they look to make an impact.
For Wrexham supporters watching on, the presence of Hyam and Cacace at the World Cup is another reminder of how far the club has come. With the Championship table now part of the weekly picture, it is a moment few could have imagined just a few years ago.
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