If you look at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you’ll instantly see that the influence of the Premier League is bigger than ever. There are 162 EPL players who have been selected by 37 of the 48 teams heading to the US, Canada, and Mexico.
That figure easily exceeds every other major European league and shows why the EPL is the top destination for the best international talent. The biggest names in English domestic football are spread across almost every corner of the World Cup.
With the tournament running from 11 June until 19 July, and recovery periods required after major international competitions, some clubs may not have key players back in training until the final weeks before the Premier League season begins. This could cause real concern before the new season gets underway.
A World Cup Unlike Any Before
This year’s tournament is the first to feature 48 teams. The expansion from 32 means that there are more matches and a longer schedule to contend with. For Premier League clubs, it also means more players spending part of the summer thousands of miles away from their training grounds.
The expanded format has brought nations such as Uzbekistan and Haiti into the competition, while traditional powers including England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands remain among the favourites.
With the Premier League talent spread so widely across those squads, the tournament’s progress will have a direct impact on clubs throughout the division. Every knockout-round victory means another week away from club football.
Manchester City Face the Biggest Squad Gap
No club is sending more players to North America than Manchester City. Nineteen members of City’s squad will feature at the World Cup, making them the most heavily represented club in the competition.
The list includes some of the tournament’s biggest names. Rodri will be central to Spain’s hopes, while Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes form part of Portugal’s challenge. Erling Haaland carries Norway’s ambitions, and Croatia will rely on both Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic.
England’s squad includes John Stones, James Trafford and Nico O’Reilly, while Omar Marmoush joins Mohamed Salah in Egypt’s attack. Jeremy Doku represents Belgium and Rayan Ait-Nouri lines up for Algeria.
The issue for City is not simply the number of players involved. Many of them represent nations expected to progress deep into the tournament. Spain, Portugal, England and Croatia all have realistic ambitions of reaching the latter stages. If several of those teams make extended runs, City could spend much of pre-season without a substantial portion of their senior squad.
Arsenal’s Core Could Be Missing for Weeks
Arsenal are second on the Premier League list with 16 players selected, and arguably, few clubs are losing a greater percentage of their strongest starting eleven.
England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to play major roles for the Three Lions, while William Saliba is one of France’s most important defenders. Brazil have selected both Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, while Martin Odegaard will captain Norway.
Spain’s squad includes David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, while Leandro Trossard joins Belgium, and Kai Havertz represents Germany.
What makes Arsenal particularly vulnerable is that these are not fringe players. They form the foundation of the team. If England, Spain, France and Brazil all reach the quarter-finals or beyond, Mikel Arteta could spend much of July preparing without several of his key performers.
For a club targeting Premier League and Champions League success, that lack of continuity could have a significant impact.
Liverpool’s Stars Will Be in High Demand
Liverpool has 11 players at the World Cup, and several of them are likely to be involved throughout the tournament.
Alisson remains Brazil’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Alexis Mac Allister is expected to play a key role for defending champions Argentina. The Netherlands will look to Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, while France has selected Ibrahima Konate.
Elsewhere, Wataru Endo represents Japan, Andy Robertson captains Scotland, and Mohamed Salah leads Egypt’s challenge.
Liverpool’s concern is not necessarily the volume of players but the importance of those involved. Van Dijk, Alisson, Mac Allister and Salah are among the most influential figures in the squad. The further their countries progress, the less time Liverpool will have to reintegrate them into pre-season preparations.
Chelsea’s International Project on Display
Chelsea’s squad has undergone major changes in recent years, but the World Cup demonstrates the level of international talent now assembled at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez will again be a key figure for Argentina, while Moises Caicedo represents Ecuador. Pedro Neto joins Portugal, Marc Cucurella heads to the tournament with Spain and Malo Gusto has been selected by France.
England’s squad includes Reece James, while Jorrel Hato represents the Netherlands. Chelsea also has players involved with Belgium, Ecuador and Senegal.
Many of these players are still approaching their peak years, which means the World Cup provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience on the biggest stage. However, it also means Chelsea could be dealing with a series of staggered returns throughout the summer.
Manchester United Spread Across the Globe
Manchester United’s 12-player contingent reflects the club’s global recruitment strategy.
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are among Portugal’s most important players, while Lisandro Martinez joins Argentina’s squad. Brazil have selected Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, while Morocco will look to Noussair Mazraoui.
Amad Diallo represents the Ivory Coast, Altay Bayindir joins Turkey, and Kobbie Mainoo has earned a place with England.
Unlike some rivals, United’s players are spread across a broad range of nations. That could help reduce the impact of a single deep tournament run, but it also means players are likely to return at different times throughout the summer.
Crystal Palace and Sunderland Are the Unexpected Success Stories
One of the most interesting aspects of the player list is the presence of clubs outside the traditional elite.
Crystal Palace have 12 players at the tournament, matching Manchester United. Their representatives include Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma for Colombia, Chris Richards for the United States, Jean-Philippe Mateta for France, Daichi Kamada for Japan and Ismaila Sarr for Senegal.
Sunderland also has 11 players involved, including Robin Roefs for the Netherlands, Habib Diarra for Senegal, Simon Adingra for the Ivory Coast and Granit Xhaka for Switzerland.
These figures highlight how international quality now exists throughout the Premier League rather than being concentrated among a handful of clubs.
For Palace and Sunderland, however, the challenge is different. Losing a few key players can have a greater effect on clubs without the same depth enjoyed by the biggest spenders.
Why Deep Tournament Runs Matter
The group stage is rarely the biggest concern for Premier League clubs. The real challenge comes when players continue winning.
If England reach the final, Arsenal would potentially lose Saka and Rice until the closing stages of the tournament. Manchester City would face the same situation with Stones, Trafford and O’Reilly.
Spain progressing deep into the competition would affect Arsenal through Raya, Merino and Zubimendi, while City would continue without Rodri. Portugal’s success would impact both City and Manchester United through players such as Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes.
The further players progress, the less time they have to recover, rest and prepare for the new season. That becomes particularly significant because the World Cup final takes place on 19 July. Players involved at that stage are unlikely to return immediately, meaning some clubs may not have their full squads available until early August.
The World Cup’s Influence Beyond the Tournament
The World Cup always creates storylines that extend beyond international football. A strong tournament can raise a player’s reputation, increase transfer interest and boost confidence heading into the new season.
Supporters also become invested in teams they would not normally follow because club players are involved. Arsenal fans may suddenly find themselves watching Norway matches because of Odegaard, while Liverpool supporters follow Argentina to see how Mac Allister performs.
That interest extends beyond the pitch. Many fans spend the tournament analysing fixtures, form and statistics while following live football markets on the World Cup as the competition develops.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 FIFA World Cup once again demonstrates the Premier League’s extraordinary global reach. With 162 players involved across 37 nations, England’s top flight remains the dominant supplier of talent to the world’s biggest football tournament.
Manchester City’s 19-player contingent is the largest of any club, while Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all face significant levels of disruption. The deeper their players progress, the more complicated pre-season planning becomes.
For supporters, the coming weeks offer the chance to watch familiar stars compete for football’s most prestigious prize. For Premier League clubs, however, there will be an additional question in the background throughout the tournament: how many of those players will still be in North America when preparations for the new season are already underway?
