England and Spain have dominated the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World XI, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda emerging as the only African player named in the team.
The list, announced by the global footballers’ union, FIFPRO, on Monday, features 11 players selected through votes cast by 6,511 professional women footballers worldwide.
Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was named between the sticks, while England’s Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood joined Spain’s Mapi Leon and Irene Paredes in the four-player defensive line.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas made the midfield alongside England international Ella Toone of Manchester United.
In attack, Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride, was selected alongside Barcelona forward Claudia Pina and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo.
Banda’s inclusion marks her third consecutive appearance in the FIFPRO Women’s World XI, making her the first African woman to achieve the milestone.
She also remains the most-selected African female footballer in the history of the team.
The World XI is distinctive among major football awards because it is determined exclusively by professional players, who vote for colleagues based on their performances during the seaso.
Full list of 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World XI
Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
Defenders
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)
Mapi Leon (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain)
Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain)
Midfielders
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain)
Ella Toone (Manchester United, England)
Forwards
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia)
Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
How the players were selected
FIFPRO said the voting was conducted through a secure digital platform provided in collaboration with its affiliated player unions.
For the women’s category, performances between August 4, 2025, and August 16, 2026, were considered, with players required to have made at least 20 official appearances during the period.
Each voter selected three players they considered the best in each of the four positions: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.
The players with the highest votes in the goalkeeper category and the top three in each outfield position secured places in the team.
The remaining position was awarded to the outfield player with the highest number of votes who had not already been selected.
