182 players from Premier League clubs were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, appearing in 39 of the 48 national squads. The Premier League count includes 169 who were at clubs at the end of 2025/26 and 13 registered for 2026/27.
The overall count
The tournament was hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and ran from 11 June 2026 to 19 July 2026. The Premier League described this as greater representation at a World Cup than ever before.
That spread reached 39 national teams. The squads without a current Premier League player still had a link to the competition: Australia included three former Premier League players, Curacao were managed by Dick Advocaat, who kept Sunderland up in 2014/15, and Qatar were managed by Julen Lopetegui, a former Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United manager.
Nations with the most Premier League players
Here are the national teams with the highest Premier League representation.
| Nation | Premier League players |
|---|---|
| England | 22 |
| Netherlands | 15 |
| Scotland | 9 |
| Belgium | 8 |
| Brazil | 8 |
| Senegal | 8 |
| Sweden | 8 |
| France | 7 |
| Norway | 7 |
| Portugal | 7 |
| Spain | 7 |
England led the way, with the Netherlands next. The nations near the top come from Europe, South America and Africa.
Premier League clubs with the most World Cup players
Here are the Premier League clubs that had the most players at the tournament.
| Club | Players |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | 19 |
| Arsenal | 15 |
| Manchester United | 13 |
| Chelsea | 12 |
| Crystal Palace | 12 |
| Sunderland | 12 |
| Aston Villa | 10 |
| Liverpool | 10 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
Manchester City had more players than any other club. The Premier League also stated that every club from 2025/26 and from 2026/27 had at least one player at the World Cup.
What the count includes
The count combines players who were at Premier League clubs at the end of one season with players already registered for the next one, so it measures the league's full connection to the tournament rather than a narrower snapshot taken only at kick-off.
Viewed by nation, the spread is wide. Viewed by club, the count reaches every Premier League club, and Manchester City's 19 players came from 12 different nations.
FAQ
Which country had the most Premier League players at the World Cup?
England had the highest total with 22. The Netherlands were next with 15.
Did Premier League players play at the World Cup?
Yes, in large numbers. There were 182 selected from Premier League clubs, and they appeared across 39 of the 48 squads.
Was this mainly driven by a few big Premier League clubs?
No. Manchester City topped the club ranking, but the official club summary also said every Premier League club from the two covered seasons had at least one player at the tournament.
Did teams without a current Premier League player have no Premier League link at all?
No. Australia had three former Premier League players, while Curacao and Qatar were managed by coaches with Premier League ties.