With all 48 squads for the World Cup finalized, we take a closer look at their composition and how they measure up against each other as the tournament approaches.
Which clubs are contributing the most players? How many from each team play in the top leagues? Additionally, who holds the titles for the oldest and youngest squads and players this World Cup?
Advertisement
Despite not clinching the Premier League title, Manchester City boasts the highest number of international representatives, with a record 19 players hailing from 12 different nations.
Following closely are the national teams of Germany, England, France, and Spain, each contributing a significant number of players, with Arsenal supplying 16 players across 10 different countries.
Serie A champions Inter Milan features just seven players due to the absence of the Italian national team.
Examining the 20 clubs in the 2025-26 Premier League, the top three clubs have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace, who have 12 players in total.
Advertisement
Accounting for players on loan, Sunderland astonishingly has as many representatives on the world stage as Chelsea and Liverpool, each with 11 players, demonstrating their global recruitment after moving up last summer.
The teams from Brentford, Everton, and Leeds contribute the least, with just four players each.
The top leagues in Europe—France’s Ligue 1, Italy’s Serie A, Premier League in England, La Liga in Spain, and Germany’s Bundesliga—are recognized as the elite. Notably, Spain’s squad consists solely of players from these dominant leagues.
Ivan Toney from Al-Ahli and Leroy Sane have been chosen for England and Germany, respectively, while France sees Theo Hernandez and N’Golo Kante included from Al-Hilal and Fenerbahce.
Advertisement
Countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium have many players competing at high levels despite their size. Meanwhile, Argentina and Senegal lead in the number of athletes playing in top leagues outside of Europe.
None of the squads from Curacao, Iran, Iraq, or Qatar featured players in Europe’s top five leagues this season, although Iraqi forward Ali Jasim is registered with Serie A club Como but was loaned out to a Saudi club.
Panama, one of England’s opponents in the group stage, enters the tournament with the oldest squad, with Iran and Colombia also having an average player age exceeding 30.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is counting on seasoned players like Danilo, Casemiro, and Neymar (all 34 years old) to help Brazil clinch their first World Cup title since 2002. Additionally, Scotland enters the tournament boasting one of the older squads in their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Advertisement
A major factor in this is veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who will be 43 years and 162 days old at the tournament’s start, making him the oldest player in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to astound at 41, preparing for his sixth World Cup, while Luka Modric and Edin Dzeko are also part of the over-40s club.
Ivory Coast features the youngest squad in the tournament, with scouts from major clubs closely monitoring their promising forwards Yan Diomande (19) and Bazoumana Toure (20).
Africa Cup of Nations champions Morocco and Euro 2024 winners Spain also have relatively youthful squads, with Spain represented by players like Lamine Yamal (18) and Pau Cubarsi (19).
Advertisement
Mexico’s Gilberto Mora is set to be the youngest player at the World Cup, at just 17 years and 240 days when the tournament starts, with his 18th birthday coming in October.
Following his debut last weekend, 17-year-old Czech midfielder Hugo Sochurek will celebrate his 18th birthday soon, while German prodigy Lennart Karl has gained attention after a breakout season at Bayern Munich.