Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.Eye-catching performances at a World Cup can change the trajectory of a player’s career. It is men’s football’s biggest shop window.While most players will be focused on glory with their countries over the next few weeks, for those out of contract, the tournament is also the perfect opportunity to impress as they try to find new clubs. Most players’ contracts will expire June 30, which is during the World Cup’s round of 32.At this World Cup, over 30 players are out of contract. From Premier League champions to international team captains, here (just for fun) is The Athletic’s combined XI of soon-to-be free agents competing in North America.GoalkeeperOrjan Nyland, NorwayOrjan Nyland could serve a team well as an experienced squad player (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)Once a Championship goalkeeper with Aston Villa and Reading, Nyland played the majority of La Liga games for Sevilla in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before Greece international Odysseas Vlachodimos took the starting spot last season.Nyland prevented close to 1.8 goals across 59 games for Sevilla, according to the expected goals conceded metric, and was capable of playing out with his feet. But during his two seasons as a regular, Sevilla were close to the relegation zone.The 35-year-old will be Norway’s No1 in their first men’s World Cup since 1998 and, with close to 70 international caps and experience in English and Spanish football, he could serve as a useful squad player to his next team.Linked to: Greuther Furth, 2.BundesligaDefendersZeki Celik, TurkeyCelik was a Ligue 1 champion with Lille in 2020-21 and for the last four seasons, has played in Serie A with Roma.With experience in the Champions League and Europa League, Celik is a right-back with versatility to play centre-back and wing-back.He received 15 passes per game in the attacking third last season, showing confidence getting high, while only Inter’s Federico Dimarco delivered more low crosses than Celik in the Italian top flight last season.For Turkey, the 29-year-old should be the starting right-back.Linked to: Juventus, LiverpoolIbrahima Konate, FranceFrance defender Ibrahima Konate has been linked with a move to Real Madrid (Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images)Konate will have many suitors after his contract was not renewed this summer at Liverpool, where he won the Premier League in the 2024-25 season.Some of his performances last season were criticised, with former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot saying last December that Konate “has been seen a bit too much at the crime scene” after a 3-3 draw with Leeds, during which Konate gave away a penalty.But while Virgil van Dijk was the leader of the Liverpool defence, Konate only missed two Premier League games last campaign. He has experience at the elite level for both club and country, and is still in his prime at 27 years old — and he might just be heading to Real Madrid.Linked to: Real MadridJohn Stones, EnglandJohn Stones won it all at Manchester City (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Stones ended a trophy-laden decade at Manchester City last season.The centre-back won 16 trophies at City, including six league titles and the 2023 Champions League, and his technical ability was trusted enough by Pep Guardiola for him to operate a a holding midfielder at times from the 2022-23 season onwards.