Manchester City is set to have the highest number of players participating in the upcoming 2026 World Cup across North America. A total of 19 players who last featured for the club will represent their national teams in the tournament. This figure not only marks the highest representation from any English football club but also positions them as the most represented club globally.
The tournament, expanded to include 48 teams, will feature 104 matches between June 11 and the final on July 19. Of these, 72 group stage matches have already been scheduled. Each group consists of four teams, with the top two automatically progressing, alongside eight of the 12 third-placed teams.
City players representing their nations
Among the 19 players from Manchester City, four are part of England‘s squad. These include goalkeeper James Trafford and defenders Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, and John Stones. Portugal will feature three Manchester City players: captain Bernardo Silva, defender Ruben Dias, and midfielder Matheus Nunes.
The Netherlands and Croatia each have two Manchester City players in their respective squads. Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Ake will play for the Dutch side, while Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are in Croatia‘s team.
Other Manchester City players participating in the tournament include:
- Erling Haaland for Norway
- Omar Marmoush for Egypt
- Rayan Cherki for France
- Jeremy Doku for Belgium
- Rodri for Spain
- Rayan Ait-Nouri for Algeria
- Antoine Semenyo for Ghana
- Abdukodir Khusanov for Uzbekistan
- Manuel Akanji for Switzerland
This diverse representation highlights the global reach of the club’s talent pool.
Tournament fixtures involving City players
Several group stage matches will feature these players. For instance, Algeria, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, will play Argentina on June 17 at 02:00 (UK) in Kansas City. Belgium, including Jeremy Doku, is scheduled to face Egypt on June 15 at 20:00 (UK) in Seattle.
Croatia, with Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, will play England on June 17 at 21:00 (UK) in Dallas. Omar Marmoush‘s Egypt will also play New Zealand on June 22 at 02:00 (UK) in Vancouver.
England‘s fixtures include a match against Ghana on June 23 at 21:00 (UK) in Boston, where Antoine Semenyo will represent Ghana. France, featuring Rayan Cherki, will meet Senegal on June 16 at 20:00 (UK) in New York. Netherlands, with Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders, will play Japan on June 14 at 21:00 (UK) in Dallas.
Erling Haaland‘s Norway will face Iraq on June 16 at 23:00 (UK) in Boston. Portugal, with Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, and Bernardo Silva, will play DR Congo on June 17 at 18:00 (UK) in Houston. Rodri‘s Spain is set to play Cabo Verde on June 15 at 17:00 (UK) in Atlanta.
Manuel Akanji‘s Switzerland will face Qatar on June 13 at 20:00 (UK) in San Francisco. Lastly, Abdukodir Khusanov‘s Uzbekistan will play Colombia on June 18 at 03:00 (UK) in Mexico City.
Historical context and other top clubs
This year’s 19 players from Manchester City surpasses the previous record for a single World Cup, which was 17 players from Barcelona four years ago. The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has contributed to this new record.
In the last World Cup in Qatar, Barcelona was the most represented club with 17 players, while Manchester City and Bayern Munich were joint-second with 16 players each. Four years prior, in Russia, Manchester City led with 16 players, followed by Real Madrid with 15 and Barcelona with 14.
Beyond Manchester City, 17 teams will have 10 or more players at the tournament. Bayern Munich ranks second with 18 players. Arsenal and Paris St-Germain are joint-third, each contributing 17 players. Barcelona completes the top five with 15 players. Five English clubs are among those with 10 or more players participating.
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