The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon, and a number of Arsenal players are set to play starring roles for their respective nations, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
For the first time ever, the global showpiece will see 48 teams go head to head across three countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with football’s ultimate holy grail up for grabs.
The upcoming edition is poised to be the biggest spectacle in the history of the tournament, so it’s far from surprising that anticipation is already at a fever pitch.
We’re still months away from kick-off, but FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are already highly sought after on Seatsnet.com, with fans taking the opportunity to secure an early spot at competitive prices.
Among them are Arsenal supporters who will no doubt be making the pilgrimage to North America next year, with a host of Gunners poised to feature in the showpiece.
Arsenal stars will be buzzing to represent their country on the biggest stage in world football and are already proving their mettle at club level.
The Gunners are on course for a third consecutive runners-up finish in the Premier League. It’s not the way they saw their campaign panning out after missing out on the title to Manchester City twice.
This was supposed to be their crowning season. But a combination of several factors, including injuries, have set Arsenal up for a familiar feeling of disappointment.
On the flip side, the Gunners are going strong in Europe. For the first time in 16 years, Arsenal have reached the Champions League semi-finals and have done so in spectacular fashion.
They eliminated the reigning champions Real Madrid to reach this stage, claiming a thumping 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium before coming back to win 2-1 at Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg.
The win against Madrid set up a semi-final date with Paris Saint-Germain.
The French champions have already knocked out two Premier League sides, Liverpool and Aston Villa, making them slight favourites to stop Arsenal in their tracks.
However, the Gunners will fancy their chances of going all the way to being crowned champions of Europe for the first time.
After their Premier League disappointment, Arsenal players will hope to enter the 2026 World Cup as Champions League winners.
As we edge closer to the tournament, it becomes increasingly clear that several Arsenal players could not only feature for their countries but actually become headline makers at the World Cup.
While predicting a tournament that is still several months away is never an exact science, some players are already so integral to their national teams that their inclusion seems inevitable.
Arsenal have a few of those on their roster, so read on as we look at the Gunners poised to feature at the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Which Arsenal players could feature in the World Cup?
One of the most obvious names that comes to mind is Bukayo Saka. Since bursting onto the scene, he has not only become a talisman for Arsenal but also an indispensable part of the England squad.
Saka has already proven he can influence games at international level and deliver on the biggest stages.
He played an important role in England’s run to the 2022 World Cup quarter final, and the final of the 2024 European Championship.
Saka has scored 12 times in 43 senior caps for England. If injuries do not keep him out, he’d undoubtedly be one of the first names on Thomas Tuchel’s team sheet.
For now, Saka will be focused on helping England get to the showpiece. Their favourable draw in the qualifiers suggests they should have no problems punching their ticket.
The Three Lions were drawn alongside Andorra, Serbia, Latvia, and Albania and have already opened their campaign with routine wins over the latter duo.
Saka will likely be joined on international duty by Declan Rice, who is also a key player for England.
The former West Ham United skipper has blossomed into one of the best midfielders in the world and is also nailed on to be a regular starter for England at the World Cup.
While Saka and Rice are established names, one player who may have to do more to get into the frame is Gabriel Martinelli. Unlike his countrymen, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus, he could have a tough time breaking into the team.
The Brazilian forward has been in and around the national setup but is yet to fully cement a place in the Selecao’s starting line-up.
Martinelli is behind the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Raphinha in the pecking order.
But with Neymar’s participation yet to be confirmed, the door could be wide open for him to grab a more prominent role.
Unlike Martinelli, William Saliba is an established name for France and will most likely be called up to represent his country.
He has developed into one of the best defenders in the world, and he could be anchoring France’s defence alongside the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate in 2026.
There’s also Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain and the heartbeat of their midfield. Though Norway missed out on the 2022 World Cup, there is optimism around their chances of qualifying in 2026.
They have started the qualifiers as they mean to go on, with back-to-back wins against Moldova and Israel.
Kai Havertz is also a regular for Germany and will have one eye on representing his nation at the showpiece.
Germany have yet to kick off their qualifiers but should have an easy route to North America, as they face Northern Ireland, Luxembourg, and Slovakia.
Arsenal’s spanish contingent – Mikel Merino and David Raya – will also be relishing the chance to prove their mettle in the World Cup although it may not be that straightforward.
La Roja are set to battle Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkiye for a World Cup spot. The European champions will fancy their chances, but they can’t afford to underestimate their opponents.
Other Arsenal players who could turn out for their countries at the World Cup include Leandro Trossard, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori, Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Lewis-Skelly has already made a huge impression on Tuchel after scoring in his England debut. He’s expected to nail down his spot at left-back, particularly with Luke Shaw struggling for fitness.
