Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.World Cup Fantasy kicks off on Thursday, with an intriguing group stage due to an expanded competition involving 48 sides.The template is already clearly emerging, with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes already in over 50 per cent of sides.But there are plenty of differentials under 15 per cent owned for managers to also consider ahead of Thursday’s (8pm UK time; 3pm ET) initial deadline. So which leftfield options should we be considering?The attacking picksEuropean champions Spain have the most enticing fixtures for the group stage from an attacking perspective, kicking off against Cape Verde before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.Lamine Yamal ($10million) is expected to be fit to start the tournament, in 45.4% of sides at the time of writing, but Nico Williams ($7.8m) has been overlooked on the opposite flank, at just 3.9% owned. He’s also on his way back from injury.Germany have an enticing opener in Group E against Curacao before taking on the Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Leroy Sane ($7.4m) scored two goals in qualifying and sits in 1.2% of sides.His team-mate Jamal Musiala ($8.0m) has slightly higher ownership at 12.2%, with goals and assists in his armoury. He has alleviated fitness worries with his minutes in pre-tournament friendlies.If Kai Havertz ($7.8m) is a regular, he could make a mockery of his price tag but there’s a threat for his minutes in the shape of Nick Woltemade ($7.2m) .Brazilian assets should also be considered in Group C, despite a tricky opener against Morocco. They then take on Haiti and Scotland in their remaining group games.Managers are backing the value of 21.4% owned Raphinha ($8.2m) over star man Vinicius Junior ($10m), who sits in 13.9% of sides.Raphinha is on penalties, with both scoring twice in qualifying away from the spot, and this pair are expected to start together in Carlo Ancelotti’s forward line.Don’t overlook Casemiro ($6.3m) either, who could be well suited to the scoring matrix, eligible for a scouting bonus at 2.2% owned (players owned by fewer than 5% of managers that score more than four points can get an extra two-point bonus) and the midfielder is also well-placed for tackle bonuses.Brazil midfielder Casemiro had an impressive goalscoring season with Manchester United (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)There are eyes on Portugal in Group K, facing Congo and Uzbekistan, with plenty of options aside from the highly backed Bruno Fernandes ($8.5m).Cristiano Ronaldo ($10m) will still have a key role to play, owned by 12.4% of managers, with Fernandes providing great service for his focal point in attack, where he remains on penalties.Sticking with legends of the game, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah ($10m) is just 5.6% owned but with a tricky opener in Group G against Belgium, before facing New Zealand and Iran.The defensive picksWhen considering those defensive picks, there are clean sheets to chase as well as attacking returns and the scouting bonus for those assets in less than 5% of sides.Spain once again have the best clean-sheet potential with their favourable run of fixtures in Group H, with only Marc Cucurella highly owned. Aymeric Laporte ($5.5m) is eligible for scout bonus at 4.8% owned.Interestingly, first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon ($5m) is just 6.2% owned, less popular than Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who is vying for the No 1 shirt.France have to be another side where the defence is the focus, as the heavy favourites for Group I. They face Senegal in their opening game, then their most favourable fixture against Iraq, before Norway.Jules Kounde ($5.4m) will be the safest defensive pick to open with, in 7.3% of teams — he managed seven goal involvements for Barcelona last season, but is yet to produce one for the national team.Jules Kounde hasn’t scored for France – but found the net three times for Barcelona in 2025-26 (Franck Fife AFP via Getty Images)I’d also consider Germany defenders, especially given their opening game against debutants Curacao. Jonathan Tah ($5.3m) and Nico Schlotterbeck ($5.3m) are both less than 5% owned.Colombia carry plenty of clean-sheet potential in Group K, especially with their opening fixtures against Uzbekistan and Congo before facing Portugal.Daniel Munoz ($4.6m) produced nine goal involvements for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season. Johan Mojica ($3.9m) is the budget pick, eligible for a scouting bonus at 3.9% owned and goalkeeper Camilo Vargas ($4.3m) in 3.8% of sides.Aside from the core teams, it’s important to target sides playing with five at the back, which includes co-hosts USMNT. Antonee Robinson ($5m) and Sergino Dest ($4.3m) are both less than 10% owned.The same can be said for Ecuador, where Pervis Esupinan ($4.8m) is in just 2.5% of sides. They kick off against Ivory Coast, before facing Curacao and Germany.Switzerland are favourites to progress from Group B, with Manuel Akanji ($5.0m) a secure starter in their defence, ahead of an opening game against Qatar.Canada’s Maxime Crepeau ($4.0m) could be among the cheapest starting goalkeepers in the game, as well as being eligible for a scouting bonus at 1.8% owned.The hosts begin with Bosnia and Herzegovina, before Qatar and then their trickier game against Switzerland in Matchday 3.