Tenerife Stars Pedri and Nico Paz Shine in 2026 World Cup Semifinals
Tenerife-born players Pedri González and Nicolás Paz have reached the 2026 World Cup semifinals, highlighting the island's enduring legacy as a premier hub for elite international football talent.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has cemented Tenerife’s status as a major hub for international football talent. A historic milestone has been reached with two players from the island—Pedri González and Nicolás Paz—reaching the tournament's semifinals while representing two of the world's top teams, Spain and Argentina.
This achievement highlights both players' positions among the global elite. Pedri, a key figure for Spain under manager Luis de la Fuente, has now earned 47 international caps, matching the record of legendary goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar. Although he has seen more rotation in this tournament, his role as a pillar of the national team remains clear. Meanwhile, Nico Paz—son of former player Pablo Paz—has enjoyed a meteoric rise. After developing at Real Madrid and establishing himself as a standout midfielder at Como 1907 in Italy’s Serie A, he chose to represent Argentina, marking his debut with an assist against Bolivia.
Their success underscores the Canary Islands' long-standing tradition of producing top-tier footballers. With the emergence of Paz and Yeremy Pino, the total number of island-born players to compete in a World Cup has reached ten. This lineage includes historic names such as Pedro Suárez, who played for Argentina in 1930, as well as Luis Molowny, Alfonso Silva, Rosendo Hernández, Juan Carlos Valerón, David Silva, and 2010 World Cup winner Pedro Rodríguez.
As the tournament heads toward its conclusion at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday the 19th, a final between Spain and Argentina remains a possibility. Should that happen, it would be more than just a clash of footballing giants; it would be a personal duel between two players trained in Tenerife. Regardless of the final result, both men have already made the island an undisputed protagonist of this World Cup. As Spain prepares to face France and Argentina takes on England, Canarian football is celebrating an unprecedented level of representation on the world stage.