Road to 2026 World Cup: Clubs with the most players
JAKARTA - Many researchers, observers or fans, or even cheerleaders of the world ball, who have been around all the stories about the 2026 World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026. In fact, the English elite club, Manchester City, contributed the most players to Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Many football fans, complaining and asking. Why did not a single Real Madrid player, called by Luis de la Fuente, strengthen Spain's La Furia Roja? Maybe, only Real Madrid fans are disappointed?
From the latest news, two Real Madrid mestro officials also sued Luis de la Fuente's choice. Toni Kross stated that the selection of the Spanish squad without Real Madrid, seemed to have personal problems from the architect of La Roja Spain. "Four years ago, Spain only selected two Real Madrid players."
Another Toni Kross, another comment from Zinedine Zidane, the Real Madrid midfielder, who also presented three UEFA Champions League titles, a hattrick in a row like Persib Bandung. "I see there is a problem of football politics, in the Spanish national team," he said.
Based on the author's research since the 2018 Russia World Cup, the world's elite clubs that contributed the most players were 16 players from Tottenham Hotspurs. Meanwhile, in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the clubs, Manchester City and Bayern Munich contributed 14 players, Manchester United and Real Madrid, 13 players, Barcelona and Chelsea 12 players, and Liverpool, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, 10 players.
Why should the stories of clubs that contribute players to the FIFA World Cup, in the last three seasons, be investigated?
Actually, the key is in the football business of premium clubs in the "mainland of the Blue Continent". European football has always been the Mecca of super modern football, located in the concept of the football business. And, the Mecca, is in the Premier League competition.
There is a barometer, the best clubs in the world, especially in the elite leagues of Europe, always have the greatest ability and income. It is worth being able to buy the best players in the world. Mancheter City, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, one of the families of the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.
The wealth of the owner of the Abu Dhabi United Group, which has the City Football Group, is worth 5.3 billion US dollars, or around Rp85 trillion.
The Manchester City-born player, who has now been called up to the squads of several "premium" class countries, is as follows:
James Trafford (England), Ruben Dias (Portugal), Tijjani Reinjnders (Netherlands), John Stones (England), Nathan Ake (Netherlands), Omar Marmoush (Egypt), Mateo Kovacic (Croatia), Erling Haaland (Norway), Rayan Cheki (France), Jeremy Doku (Belgium), Marc Guehi (England), Rodri (Spain), Bernado Silva (Portugal), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Alzajair), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), Matheus Nunes (Portugal), Nico O'Reilly (England), and Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan).
Tomorrow Saturday night, May 30, at 23.00 Jakarta time, there is the most superior party at the end of the European league season. Namely, the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final match, between Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain, takes place at the Puskas Arena Stadium, Budapest, Hungary.
It could be that all the Arsenal and PSG players, who will fight for the 71st Champions League, in the European club event, will be late to enter their respective national teams in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Because, on average, 48 countries participating in the 2026 World Cup have already flown to the North American peninsula.
If Arsenal is able to defeat the defending champion PSG, as the champion of the 2024-2025 Champions League, then this 2025-2026 season is the first title. However, if it fails, then this is the second time as a runner-up, repeating the 2005-2006 Champions League, when it was defeated by Barcelona.
However, like it or not, Stan Kroenke, the owner of Arsenal is the second richest club owner in the world, after PSG. From the pocket of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, as the controlling owner of his wealth, is 6.16 billion euros, or around Rp164.4 trillion.
Just imagine, to this day, the estimated best Arsenal squad heading to the Champions League final, reaching 821.7 million euros, as well as the estimated club revenue this season, reaching 770 million euros. Arsenal is considered a rich club. It is fitting, his club, able to win the Premier League 2025 - 2026, after waiting for 22 seasons of competition.
Players from the North London club, who are now called up to their respective national squads, are as follows:
Arsenal (15)David Raya (Spain), William Saliba (France), Piero Hincapie (Ecuador), Bukayo Saka (England), Mikel Merino (Spain), Martin Odegaard (Norway), Eberechi Eze (England), Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil), Jurrien Timber (Netherlands), Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Lenadro Trossard (Belgium), Noni Madueke (England), Kai Havertz (Germany), Martin Zubimendi (Spain), and Declan Rice (England).
French and Spanish clubsAnother Manchester City, another Arsenal, then another Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which is 87.5% owned by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. PSG's net worth is US$6.3 billion, or Rp122.1 trillion.
As the defending champion of the European Champions League, PSG is sure to remain determined to be able to defend the title, when facing Arsenal, May 30, 2026. Tomorrow Saturday, around 11 Indonesian time. PSG supporters, it seems, will be jumping around supporting the French capital club.
Paris Saint-Germain (14)Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Marquinhos (Brazil), Favian Ruiz (Spain), Goncalo Ramos (Portugal), Ousmane Dembele (France), Desire Doue (France), Vitinha (Portugal), Lee Kang-in (South Korea), Lucas Hernandez (France), Nuno Mendes (Portugal), Bradley Barcola (France), Warren Zaire-Emery (France), Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal), and Joao Neves (Portugal).
Two rival clubs in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, are indeed impossible to reconcile. In the Indonesian format, Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta, are "eternal enemies." Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente, could by chance, or intentionally, remove all players who strengthen Real Madrid.
Only Luis de la Fuente understands. Talking about the needs and depth of the squad, as well as physical fitness, as well as the tactics of the Spanish national team strategy, only the coach has the veto.
Still Remember, when the 2008 Spain coach, Luis Aragones, only needed one player with a character according to his strategic tactics, there was a figure of Marcos Senna. The player who is originally not Spanish. However, thanks to Aragones' insistence, Spain, which was strengthened by naturalized players, Marcos Senna, Spain was able to win the Euro 2008 champion.
It could be the ambition of Luis de la Fuente's tactical strategy, which does not require Real Madrid players, such as Dean Huijsen, Raul Asensio, Gonzalo Garcia and Dani Ceballos. Because, besides the many "young guns" of Barcelona, there is also a row of players from other clubs, which is more suitable for his tactics.
Real Madrid fans, don't have to "baperan". The reason is that it is not a native Spanish player. In fact, there are ten players who graze at Real Madrid. The giant club, which has won the European club championship 15 times, has many stars from other countries as its masters. Just look, Mbappe, Vini Junior, Valverde, Rudiger and Arda Guler.
Below are the Barcelona and Real Madrid players, who contributed 13 and 10 players on behalf of their respective countries, as follows:
Barcelona (13)Ronald Araujo (Uruguay), Pau Cubarsi (Spain), Gavi (Spain), Pedri (Spain), Lamine Yamal (Spain), Raphinha (Brazil), Joao Garcia (Spain), Marcus Rashford (England), Ferran Torres (Spain), Dani Olmo (Spain), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands), Jules Kounde (France), and Eric Garcia (Spain).
Real Madrid (10)Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), David Alama (Austria), Jude Bellingham (England), Vinicius Junior (Brazil), Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Kylian Mbappe (France), Aurelien Tchouameni (France), Arda Guler (Turkey), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), Antonio Rudiger (Germany).
Talk of the elite clubs of the English League is a hindrance, namely Liverpool. None, the Liverpool player, strengthened the English national team. The same fate, with Real Madrid.
However, out of the 11 players who strengthened their respective countries, they became the pillars of one of the countries dubbed the "runner-up specialist" of the World Cup, namely the "Orange Team" of the Netherlands. Can "The Flying Dutchmen" save their grudge, so as not to be exposed to "karma" again?
England Team Without LiverpoolThere are five elite English clubs, besides Liverpool who "empty blong" contribute to the English national team. Manchester United and Chelsea, still quite there, although only one player. But, fortunately, it is Aston Villa, the 2025-2026 Europa League champion, who is able to contribute three of its players, to the Thomas Tuchel squad.
Here's a look at the four English clubs with the most players, for their respective countries, as follows:
Manchester United (12)Altay Bayindir (Turkey), Diogo Dalot (Portugal), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), Matheus Cunha (Brazil), Tyrell Malacia (Netherlands), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Casemiro (Brazil), Manual Ugarte (Uruguay), Senne Lammens (Belgium), Diego Leon (Paraguay), and Kobbie Mainoo (England).
Liverpool (11)Alisson (Brazil), Wataru Endo (Japan), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Ibrahima Konate (France), Florian Wirtz (Germany), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Andy Robertson (Scotland), Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands), Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands).
Marc Cucurella (Spain), Pedro Neto (Portugal), Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Mamadou Sarr (Senegal), Jorrel Hato (Netherlands), Reece James (England), Moises Caicedo (Ecuador), and Malo Gusto (France).
Aston Villa (7)Enzri Konsa (England), John McGinn (Scotland), Youri Tielemens (Belgium), Ollie Watkins (England), Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Amadou Onana (Belgium), and Morgan Rogers (England).
Bayern Munich dominanceOnly one country participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, enough with its elite club squad, all its players, to be the starter of its country, namely Germany. Of the 26 players called up by coach Julian Nagelsmann, six players come from Bayern Muenchen. Similarly, the Spanish national team, which chose eight (8) Barcelona players to be in the squad of the "Matador" team.
It's like this. The German national team, which is in Group C, along with Curucao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador later, as if all the participants in the group, just face the German national team + Bayern Muenchen vs Cucucao, vs Ivory Coast and vs Ecuador. Funny isn't it?
Here are the German squad reinforced by 12 players of "FC Hollywood" Bayern Muenchen:
Bayern Munich (12)Manuel Neuer (Germany), Dayot Upamecano (France), Kim Min-jae (South Korea), Jonathan Tah (Germany), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Leon Goretzka (Germany), Jamal Musiala (Germany), Luis Diaz (Colombia), Michael Olise (France), Nicholas Jackson (Senegal), Alphonso Davies (Canada), and Aleksandar Pavlovic (Germany).
Many of the countries, which are strengthened by second or third-class clubs in Europe, or only local clubs on the African continent, North America, such as Mexico and Canada, or also from Asia. However, there is a club from the Czech Republic, which calls 11 native players from a league club in the Czech Republic called Slavia Praha.
Can the Czech Republic players be able to give birth to their past stars, such as Petr Cech, Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky, Milan Baros, Pavel Nedved, Vladimir Smicer? The answer is, just wait for the performance of 11 players from Slavia Prague, who just won the Czech Republic League, the 2025 - 26 season, as follows:
Slavia Praha (11)Jindrich Stanek, Tomas Holes, David Zima, Jaroslav Zeleny, David Jurasek, David Doudera, Stepak Chalupek, Lukas Provod, Michal Sadilek, Tomas Chory and Mojmir Chytil.
J. Erwiyantoro(Football Columnist)