The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, kicks off on June 11. While club football is on break, clubs still have plenty of reasons to be proud.
According to a study by Brazilian newspaper O Globo, which analyzed the data of 1,248 called-up players, Manchester City tops the list of clubs with the most representatives at the tournament. The two-time FA Cup winners are sending 19 players from 12 different national teams to the World Cup.
City Back on Top
This puts Manchester City back above the record previously held by Bayern Munich, which had 17 players at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Earlier, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, City also led the rankings with 16 players called up.
A total of 1,248 players heading to the World Cup come from 453 different clubs around the world.
Manchester City’s 19 Players by National Team
England: James Trafford, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, and Nico O’Reilly
Portugal: Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, and Bernardo Silva
Croatia: Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić
Netherlands: Nathan Aké and Tijjani Reijnders
Algeria: Rayan Aït-Nouri
Belgium: Jérémy Doku
Egypt: Omar Marmoush
Spain: Rodri
France: Ryan Cherki
Ghana: Antoine Semenyo
Uzbekistan: Abdukadir Khusanov
Norway: Erling Haaland
Immediately behind Manchester City is Bayern Munich with 18 players, followed by Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain with 16 each, while Barcelona has 15 players at the tournament.
The most successful club outside Europe is Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, which ranks sixth overall with 12 national-team players.
Club Ranking by Number of Players at the World Cup
- Manchester City (England) – 19
- Bayern Munich (Germany) – 18
- Arsenal (England) – 16
- Paris Saint-Germain (France) – 16
- Barcelona (Spain) – 15
- Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 12
- Atletico Madrid (Spain) – 12
- Crystal Palace (England) – 12
- Manchester United (England) – 12
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – 11
- Galatasaray (Turkey) – 11
- Liverpool (England) – 11
- Fenerbahçe (Turkey) – 10
- AC Milan (Italy) – 10
- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) – 10
- Real Madrid (Spain) – 10
- Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) – 10
- Al Ahly (Egypt) – 9
- Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) – 9
- Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) – 9
- Flamengo (Brazil) – 9
- Sunderland (England) – 9
- Aston Villa (England) – 8
- Benfica (Portugal) – 8
- Brighton & Hove Albion (England) – 8
- Celtic (Scotland) – 8
- Chelsea (England) – 8
- Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) – 8
- Hoffenheim (Germany) – 8
- Lille (France) – 8
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – 8
- Newcastle United (England) – 8
- Nice (France) – 8
- Olympique de Marseille (France) – 8
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – 8
- Stuttgart (Germany) – 8
- Tottenham Hotspur (England) – 8
- Villarreal (Spain) – 8
- Al Duhail (Qatar) – 7
- Atalanta (Italy) – 7
- Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) – 7
- Inter Milan (Italy) – 7
- Palmeiras (Brazil) – 7
- Real Betis (Spain) – 7
- Sporting CP (Portugal) – 7
- Strasbourg (France) – 7
- Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic) – 7
- Al-Hussein (Jordan) – 6
- Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia) – 6
- Esteghlal Tehran (Iran) – 6
- Fulham (England) – 6
- Juventus (Italy) – 6
- Mainz 05 (Germany) – 6
- Monaco (France) – 6
- Persepolis (Iran) – 6
- Roma (Italy) – 6
- Young Boys (Switzerland) – 6