Wrexham should be watching the 2026 World Cup closely this summer, with Phil Parkinson’s side preparing for another important Championship window and five international players standing out as names I believe could be worth monitoring.
This is not a list of confirmed targets. It is an opinion piece based on player profiles that could make sense if Wrexham use the tournament as part of a wider scouting picture.
The World Cup has always been a shop window. For Wrexham, it now feels relevant in a different way because the club is operating at a level where international experience, athleticism and tactical fit matter more than ever.
Yukinari Sugawara would suit the right wing-back role
The first player I would be watching is Yukinari Sugawara. The Japan international spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Werder Bremen from Southampton, and his attacking numbers make him an obvious player to discuss.
Sugawara started 29 Bundesliga games, recorded six assists, created 20 chances and attempted 73 crosses. That is the kind of output Wrexham should look at if they want more quality from the right side.
Wrexham have leaned heavily on wing-backs under Phil Parkinson. The system asks them to carry real attacking responsibility, get high and deliver early.
Sugawara fits that profile. His best work comes in advanced areas, and that makes him a sensible name to monitor.
Harry Souttar would add authority at centre-back
Harry Souttar is the second player on my list. The Australia international is not a glamorous suggestion, but he could be a practical one.
At 6ft 6in, Souttar offers the kind of size and defensive presence that still matters in the Championship. He is currently part of the Leicester City squad, and his World Cup involvement shows he remains valued internationally.
Wrexham already have centre-backs who can step out and play. Souttar would bring penalty-box defending, aerial command and set-piece threat.
He would not walk straight into the team. But strong Championship squads need internal pressure, and Souttar would help raise standards.
Che Adams would change Wrexham’s attack
Che Adams is the most ambitious name here. He is also one of the most interesting.
The Scotland striker joined Torino in 2024, and is under contract until 2027, so any move would not be simple.
Adams would give Wrexham something different. He has English football experience, presses well from the front and can run channels rather than only play with his back to goal.
Wrexham already have physical forward options. Adams would alter the rhythm of the frontline and create space for runners from midfield.
The wider club context matters too. The growth around the Racecourse Ground means Wrexham can now enter conversations that once felt out of reach.
Krépin Diatta would be a statement free-agent option
Krépin Diatta might be the most exciting right-sided option on this list. The Senegal international is set to leave Monaco, with reports suggesting that his contract will not be extended.
That makes him worth monitoring. Free transfers still involve wages and competition, but removing a fee can change the conversation.
Diatta has played as a winger and wing-back. That flexibility matters because Wrexham need wide players who can attack space, defend one-versus-one and cover ground.
He will have options. But Wrexham should be ambitious enough to understand the market and know whether a deal is even possible.
Moïse Bombito is the high-upside defensive pick
The final player is Moïse Bombito. The Canada centre-back is more of a long-term upside pick than an immediate certainty.
Bombito is contracted to OGC Nice, and Sportsnet covered his World Cup squad status while he continued his recovery from a fractured tibia. That injury context has to be taken seriously.
When fit, his profile is attractive. He is quick, strong, composed and capable of defending space behind a higher line.
He made 27 Ligue 1 appearances in 2024-25 before his injury-hit 2025-26 season. That shows there is a player with top-level minutes behind him.
Why this World Cup matters for Wrexham
The common thread with these five players is not that every one is realistic. It is that each one addresses a logical squad question.
Sugawara and Diatta speak to the right wing-back role. Souttar and Bombito offer different centre-back profiles. Adams would change the shape and energy of the forward line.
The new Kop project, the club’s growing profile through Welcome to Wrexham and the wider ownership impact recognised by TIME100 recognition all form part of the same picture.
Not every World Cup standout will be attainable. But these are the kinds of players I believe Wrexham should be watching carefully this summer, because each one fits a need, a profile or an ambition that feels relevant to Parkinson’s next step.
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