The Hunt for the Next Lamine Yamal (2026)

They're just teenagers—and they carry the future of football on their shoulders. SVT takes you inside the high-stakes world of talent scouting, where most kids get cut. As the World Cup unfolds, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal rises as one of the tournament's brightest stars, while behind the scenes, a relentless machine works to forge the next wave of elite players. At Benfica, children as young as five are already being tracked. Denmark was among the first to treat academy players like assets. In the UK, the story turned devastating for two young boys who ended their own lives. Back home, a fierce debate is splitting the football world over the push for early specialization.