Family drama is coming to the pitch at this World Cup, and statistics have the numbers to prove it. A total of 7 pairs of brothers are competing across the tournament, making for some of the most compelling storylines away from the scoreboard.
Three of those sibling pairs are united under the same flag. France’s Lucas and Theo Hernández will line up together, while Leandro and Juninho Bacuna represent Curaçao, and Laros and Deroy Duarte fly the colours of Cape Verde.
The remaining 4 pairs are split across rival nations, and that’s where things get genuinely fascinating. Désiré Doué suits up for France while his brother Guéla Doué plays for Côte d’Ivoire. Nico Williams represents Spain, with Iñaki Williams having committed to Ghana. Scotland’s John Souttar faces the possibility of lining up against his brother Harry, who plays for Australia. And Derrick Luckassen of Ghana could find himself on the opposite side to Netherlands striker Brian Brobbey.
The prospect of brothers going head to head on the world’s biggest stage adds a layer of tension that no fixture list can manufacture. When these matchups eventually arrive, they will be must-watch moments of this World Cup.
