Fifa Under-20 World Cup: Players to watch and everything else you need to know

Fifa is a dirty word this week, but don't let that put you off keeping an eye on the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand, which gets underway this weekend.

England are not among the 24 teams competing but 13 players will be representing clubs from these shores. Four Manchester City players, three from Tottenham Hotspur, two from Fulham and one each from Manchester United, West Ham United, Arsenal, Brentford and Ipswich Town make up that contingent, the pick of the bunch being:

Andreas Pereira – Brazil & Manchester United

After being crowned United's Under-21 Player of the Season, Pereira is now targeting international recognition with his adopted nation. He represented Belgium, the country of his birth, at Under-17 level, but opted to switch to Brazil, where his father hails from when Under-20 boss Rogerio Micale came calling earlier this year.

Pereira had no role to play in Brazil's qualifying campaign but his rise for Warren Joyce's Under-21 ranks in Manchester – culminating in a Premier League debut against Tottenham in March – has seen the technically gifted attacking midfielder called in to help pull the strings in the selecao attack.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – United States & Tottenham

Southend-born Carter-Vickers already appeared for the USA's Under-23 ranks last October and was a regular starter in their Under-20 CONCACAF Championship side in January. At 17, he is the youngest member of the USA squad and has already proven to be a commanding presence for Ugo Ehigou's Under-21 ranks at White Hart Lane this season, placing Radamel Falcao firmly in his back pocket during an Under-21 league match in March.

Gideon Zelalem – United States & Arsenal

Maybe the most cosmopolitan man in New Zealand this month. Zelalem was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents but is eligible for the US having lived in Maryland before joining Arsenal's youth academy as a 16-year-old. Now 18, he gained his US citizenship last December and warmed his way into Tab Ramos' Under-20 squad despite the head coach still not knowing where to play him. Speaking about Zelalem, Ramos said: "Those are players that I like because you can't really coach them. You just have to generally put them in positions and, hopefully, put them into position to succeed."

Having already made two appearances for Arsene Wenger's side, he remains firmly in the Frenchman's plans, having signed his first professional contract in March 2014.

(See the bottom of the page for the full list of English-based players)

As any seasoned Football Manager veteran will now, this competition is all about unearthing new talents. Our picks are:

Angel Correra – Argentina & Atletico Madrid

Correa, 20, sealed a move to Atletico Madrid last summer but was forced to remain on the sidelines for the next six months after undergoing surgery when a benign tumour was found on his heart during his medical with the club. Despite that, he was named in the squad for Argentina's Under-20 South American Championship earlier this year and inspired his side to win the competition, laying on three assists and scoring four goals, including the winner against Uruguay in the final.

With a low centre of gravity and blistering pace, he predictably draws comparisons with Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez and could replicate the former's previous triumphs in this competition.

Julian Brandt – Germany & Werder Bremen

Another prodigious talent of the German conveyor belt, the Werder Bremen starlet already has a reputation as one of the Bundesliga's outstanding talents. The promising winger with a growing reputation for scoring goals has hit the back of the back of the net for his country at every youth level since Under-15 and was part of the Germany squad that won the Under-19 European Championships last season. Bet on that to continue in New Zealand.

Andrija Zivkovic – Serbia– Partizan Belgrade

No longer just a young hopeful looking to make an impact, Zivkovic has been a regular in the Partizan Belgrade first team since the age of 17. That rapid progress has already been rewarded with two appearances for the senior national team which saw him become the youngest ever player to appear for Serbia, a feat he also achieved at club level. At last summer's Under-19 European Championship he was limited to just two appearances, but still produced three assists as his side reached the semi-final. The technically gifted winger is the latest in Partizan's production line that has also produced Roma's Adem Ljajic and Liverpool's Lazar Markovic.

Who else has been here?

It will come as little surprise to know that some of the best players on the planet have cut their teeth at this competition. But it is worth remembering not to get too carried away either. A chap by the name of Lionel Messi was named player of the tournament in 2005, fending off the challenge of erm, John Obi Mikel, who finished in second place.

Sergio Aguero repeated that feat in 2007 and was succeeded two years later by Dominic Adiyiah of Ghana. He now plies his trade for the giants of the Thai Premier League, Nakhon Ratchasima. Brazilian forward Henrique has suffered a similarly underwhelming fate since being crowned best player and top scorer in 2011. Playing for Brazil's Under-20 ranks was as good as it got for him and at 24, Henrique is still to leave his homeland, bar a brief loan stint at Granada.

Full list of England-based players in the Under-20 World Cup

Nikola Tzanev – Brentford and New Zealand

Monty Patterson – Ipswich Town and New Zealand

Cameron Carter-Vickers –Tottenham Hotspur and United States

Emerson Hyndman – Fulham and United States

Gedion Zelalem – Arsenal and United States

Tiago Casasola – Fulham and Argentina

Yaw Yeboah – Manchester City and Ghana

Diego Poyet – West Ham United and Uruguay

Milos Veljkovic – Tottenham and Serbia

Kelechi Iheanacho – Manchester City and Nigeria

Musa Yahaya – Tottenham and Nigeria

Chidiebere Nwakali – Manchester City and Nigeria

Andreas Pereria – Manchester United and Brazil

The competition gets underway on Saturday 30 May when hosts New Zealand take on Ukraine. Match coverage will be available. All further fixture news is available here.