How Many EFL Players Are Going to Be at World Cup 2026?

Historically, the Championship has always punched above its weight when the international breaks roll around. The sheer physical preparation of playing twice a week in England means these players are often uniquely tournament-ready – or so it feels a lot of the time when you see them seamlessly adapt to the intensity of global football. But instead of dealing in vague hypotheticals, we can look at the actual names locking in their boarding passes.

This massive influx of domestic league talent adds an intriguing layer of unpredictability to the tournament. Analysts trying to map out group-stage dynamics are paying closer attention than ever to these squad announcements. Even the early chatter surrounding World Cup betting tends to shift slightly as observers realize just how much match fitness and robust depth these EFL stalwarts bring to their respective national sides. It is a reminder that elite tournament capability isn't solely concentrated in Europe’s top-flight divisions.

Amir Hadziahmetovic: Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Hull City midfielder provides one of the more dramatic inclusion stories of the selection period. Despite undergoing surgery for a meniscus injury suffered during a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City back in April, the 29-year-old loanee has done enough to earn the trust of head coach Sergej Barbarez.

Ivor Pandur: Croatia

Hadziahmetovic will not be the only Hull City player boarding a flight. Shot-stopper Ivor Pandur has capped off a phenomenal individual campaign by securing his place in Zlatko Dalic’s squad.

Pandur was an absolute rock for the Tigers, starting all but one of their 46 regular-season matches and putting in massive performances against Millwall in the playoff semifinals. While he will serve as the primary backup to Dominik Livakovic, getting the call to sit on the bench against the likes of England is a massive nod to his development in the second tier – and contribute to his interest on the transfer market.

The Curacao Trio

The tournament debutants have leaned heavily into English football to assemble a highly competitive squad under Dick Advocaat.

Tahith Chong after picking up a season of valuable minutes with Sheffield United, Ar'Jany Martha, despite a tough domestic season that saw the Millers slide toward relegation, and Middlesbrough attacker Sontje Hansen will all appear.

Edo Kayembe: DR Congo

The Watford engine room operator is heading to the tournament with total peace of mind after recently putting pen to paper on a 12-month contract extension at Vicarage Road.

Kayembe has been an absolute staple for his country since 2021, and his inclusion comes on the back of a solid club campaign where he chipped in with four goals.

The New Zealand Contingent

New Zealand has truly embraced the depth of the English league system, naming a fascinating six-strong group of players from almost every tier of the pyramid.

Up top, League Two is represented by Port Vale striker Ben Waine, while League One gets a look-in thanks to Peterborough United's Matthew Garbett. Wrexham left wing-back Liberato Cacace also made the final cut despite battling an injury layoff since February.

South Korea’s Championship Midfield

While global audiences will understandably focus on legendary figures like Son Heung-min, South Korea’s technical staff have clearly been keeping a very close eye on the English second division.

The national team has selected this triple threat of Championship midfield talent to drive their engine room.

Sweden’s Goalkeeping Duo

Former Swansea manager Graham Potter knows exactly how much quality sits just below the top flight – or so it feels a lot of the time when you look at his recent squad selections.

The Sweden boss has called upon two distinct EFL shot-stoppers to bulk out his defensive options. Derby County's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom gets the nod after a strong season where the Rams narrowly missed out on the promotion playoffs, and he is joined by Stoke City keeper Viktor Johansson, who made a timely return from shoulder surgery just before the domestic curtain came down.

Anis Ben Slimane: Tunisia

Rounding out the domestic contingent is Norwich City's creative midfielder, who is set to experience the tournament for the second time in his career after featuring in Qatar.

Slimane’s path to the plane required plenty of grit; after falling out of favor during the early stages of the season at Carrow Road, he enjoyed a massive personal renaissance from January onward. Racking up 11 goal contributions over the course of the campaign made him impossible for his national selectors to ignore.