World Cup WAGs: Rest of the World – Part One

The World 2026 Cup belongs not only to the usual giants. Norway arrive at their first tournament in 28 years, Croatia bring the legend of Luka Modrić for one final bow, and Sweden carry one of the most explosive strike partnerships on the planet.

Behind each of those squads stand women with extraordinary stories of their own.

Here are six of the most compelling WAGs from the wider world heading to North America this World Cup.

Isabel Johansen: The woman who texted Erling Haaland first

Most people wait for Erling Haaland to make the first move. Isabel Johansen did not. She and Haaland were teenagers at the same club in Norway, when she sent him a message. “She was the one who checked me out.” Haaland told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“I wasn’t the one who checked her out,” confessed Haaland. Now, Isabel is a footballer herself, which helps explain why their relationship has always felt grounded rather than glamorous. The couple welcomed their first child in late 2024 and Isabel is a part of Manchester City’s WAGs.

They play Minecraft together. They share a love of kebabs and when Premier League defenders leave scratch marks on Haaland’s body, Isabel, in his own words, is “not so happy about it, it looks a bit wrong.” She is, in short, exactly what the world’s best striker needed.

Helene Spilling: The ballroom champion who conquered Arsenal

Helene Spilling did not fall into football by accident. She arrived as a star in her own right. A ballroom dancer with 17 national titles to her name, she won Skal vi danse, Norway’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, in 2021, becoming a household name across Scandinavia.

She and Martin Odegaard quietly married in a civil ceremony in November 2024, welcomed their son in December, then threw the celebration the world had been waiting for in June 2025, a lavish ceremony in Norway attended by Arsenal stars.

Helene runs her own dance studio and athleisure line, DAVAY, from their home in London. Moreover, she has already gone viral among Arsenal fans for celebrating goals. Therefore, when Norway arrive in USA, the stands will be worth watching almost as much as the pitch.

Vanja Bosnic: The agent who built Luka Modric’s career

Vanja Bosnic did not merely marry Luka Modric. In many ways, she built him. The couple met in 2007 at the Mamic Sports Agency in Zagreb, where Vanja worked as a manager and Modric was a client. Their relationship grew from a professional connection into something deeper.

They married in 2010, Modric’s then-international teammate Vedran Corluka was best man, and have since raised three children: Ivano, Ema and Sofia. Then, in 2012, Vanja did something remarkable. She negotiated her husband’s £30 million transfer to Real Madrid.

It remains one of the most consequential deals in football history. He would go on to win six Champions League titles, a Ballon d’Or and remains one of the greatest midfielder of his time. Now, she arrives at what is Modric’s final World Cup as the architect of an extraordinary story.

Izabel Kovacic: The Croatian Shakira who does everything

Croatia’s media gave Izabel Kovacic her nickname, “the Croatian Shakira”, for her long, curly blonde hair. However, the label barely scratches the surface of who she actually is. She and Mateo met as teenagers in a church, where he was an altar boy and she was in the choir.

They married in 2017 in the same church, full circle in the most romantic sense, and had their son Ivan in 2020. Meanwhile, Luka Modric became Ivan’s godfather, tying the two Croatian Man City teammates together in the most personal way possible.

Izabel herself studied economics in Zagreb, founded eco-friendly baby brand Lunilou in 2015 alongside her sister, and subsequently launched her own sustainable womenswear label, IZAKOVA.

Ines Aguiar: Gyokeres’ reconciliation romance

Viktor Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal was brilliant for his career. For his relationship, it was fatal. Portuguese actress Ines Aguiar and Gyokeres had been together for several years, but reports suggested the transition had placed serious strain on the couple. They split.

Then, in March 2026, Ines posted photographs from a trip to London. Gyokeres liked them. The Portuguese press noticed immediately. Shortly after, they were confirmed to be back together: the reconciliation as public and undeniable as the split had been.

Since then, Ines has been a regular presence at the Emirates, often sitting alongside Helene Spilling in the stands. As a result, Arsenal have arguably the most photogenic WAG pairing in the Premier League. And, you can expect Sweden to have some of that firepower in USA, too.

Maja Nilsson Lindelof: The WAG who photographed a prince

Maja Nilsson Lindelof has been called the Premier League’s hottest WAG: twice, by two separate outlets, in two separate seasons. However, her most memorable moment of 2025-26 had nothing to do with her incredible fashion brand or fame. It had to do with Prince William.

After Aston Villa’s Europa League victory in Istanbul in May 2026, Maja photographed the heir to the British throne at the afterparty, visibly letting his hair down, and posted it to Instagram with the Swedish caption “Spåra ur direkt,” meaning roughly “goes off the rails immediately.”

The internet subsequently lost its mind. It is, admittedly, a fitting headline for a woman whose life has rarely lacked for drama. And, it seems certain that she’ll be bringing that drama to North America for the World Cup.