2026 World Cup brings together 48 teams: 182 Premier League players at the tournament
The biggest World Cup in history began on June 11, 2026 with an unprecedented format: 48 teams split between three host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States. The competition runs until July 19, and English football is strongly represented: in all, 182 players linked to the Premier League were called up for the tournament.
Premier League dominates the call-ups
Of the 48 participating countries, 39 arrived at the tournament with at least one player who featured in the Premier League in the 2025/26 season or is already registered for the 2026/27 cycle. That is 169 players from the season just ended, plus another 13 who have already joined an English squad in the following window.
England naturally leads the contingent, with 22 representatives. Among them are Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham – although the Real Madrid midfielder is the only one of the four who does not currently play for a Premier League club. The European side is the one that concentrates the most players from the domestic league at the World Cup.
Brazil and Argentina well served by English football
Traditional powers, the two South American teams arrive at the tournament backed by pillars who play in England. Brazil count on eight Premier League call-ups: Alisson Becker and Gabriel Magalhães among the starters, plus Bruno Guimarães, Gabriel Martinelli, Casemiro, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha and Rayan.
Argentina also add six names: Emiliano Martínez, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister. Half the backbone of the 2022 world champions built directly in English football. It is no coincidence.
156 already in the round of 16, 26 eliminated
With the group stage over, 156 of the 182 players linked to the Premier League advanced to the knockout rounds. Only 26 saw their participation end in the first phase. The figure reflects both the quality of the teams that concentrate these players and the growing weight of the English league as a global showcase.
It is worth recalling: at Qatar 2022, the World Cup had only 32 teams. The expansion to 48 sides this edition opened space for nations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – and even some of these debutants brought players developed or signed by English clubs.
