Which Serie A side has the most representatives left at the 2026 World Cup?
Quick summary
An analytical piece ranking Serie A clubs by how many of their players remain in contention for the 2026 World Cup national team squads.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThe 2026 World Cup group stage is finally complete, the line-up for the first ever round of 32 has been set, 19 Serie A and Serie B clubs are still represented at the tournament, but no other Italian side boasts more stars than Milan, who have 10.
The World Cup group stage came to a close in the early hours of Sunday morning, ending with a 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria and a 3-1 victory for an Argentina side featuring Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz against Jordan.
48 teams have been cut down to 32 and those sides will now head into the knock-out bracket, which kicks off with South Africa vs. co-hosts Canada at 20.00 on Sunday evening.
Read more: 64 Serie A players left standing at the 2026 World Cup – Who are you supporting?
Milan have more representatives left standing in the World Cup knock-outs than any other Serie A side with a cohort of 10 players: Adrien Rabiot and Mike Maignan of France are among the favourites to win the entire tournament.
Atalanta are also very well represented at the 2026 World Cup with eight players making it through to the round of 32. Their hopes lie with the likes of Ederson and Brazil, Charles De Ketelaere of Belgium and Marten De Roon of the Netherlands.
Inter sit in third place in the list of best-represented Serie A sides in the World Cup knock-out stage. The Nerazzurri have representatives from both France and Argentina, the bookies’ favourites to make the 2026 final.
Juventus have five remaining players at the World Cup, while Roma, Como, Bologna, and Sassuolo all have four.
Which Serie A club has the most players left at the World Cup? (list also includes some Serie B clubs)
Milan – 10: Adrien Rabiot, Mike Maignan (France), Rafael Leao (Portugal), Luka Modric (Croatia), Christian Pulisic (USA), Koni De Winter, Alexis Saelemaekers (Belgium), Santiago Gimenez (Mexico), Pervis Estupinan (Ecaudor), Ardon Jashari (Switzerland).
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Luka Modric of AC Milan celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Atalanta – 8: Isak Hien (Sweden), Marten De Roon (Netherlands), Mario Pasalic (Croatia), Sead Kolasinac (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium), Ederson (Brazil), Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana).
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrate after being confirmed as Serie A champions following victory in the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Inter – 6: Marcus Thuram (France), Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands), Petar Sucic (Croatia), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Ivory Coast), Lautaro Martinez (Argentina), Manuel Akanji (Switzerland).
Juventus – 5: Jonathan David (Canada), Teun Koopmeiners (Netherlands), Weston McKennie (USA), Gleison Bremer (Brazil), Francisco Conceicao (Portugal).
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Roma – 4: Manu Kone (France), Donyell Malen (Netherlands), Neil El Aynaoui (Morocco), Evan Ndicka (Ivory Coast).
Como – 4: Martin Baturina (Croatia), Stefan Posch (Austria), Assane Diao (Senegal), Nico Paz (Argentina).
Bologna – 4: Nikola Moro (Croatia), Torbjorn Heggem (Norway), Remo Freuler (Switzerland), Jhon Lucumi (Colombia).
Sassuolo – 4: Ismael Kone (Sassuolo), Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia), Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway), Cristian Volpato (Australia).
Napoli – 2: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku (Belgium).
NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 06: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Torino FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) Genoa – 2: Leo Ostigard (Norway), Johan Vasquez (Genoa).
Parma – 2: Zion Suzuki (Japan), Alessandro Circati (Australia).
Torino – 2: Nikola Vlasic (Croatia), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Norway).
Venezia – 2: Michael Svoboda (Austria), John Yeboah (Ecuador).
Cremonese – 2: Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Morten Thorsby (Norway).
Fiorentina – 1: Marin Pongracic (Croatia).
Udinese – 1: Jesper Karlstrom (Sweden).
Cagliari – 1: Yerry Mina (Colombia).
Pisa – 1: Michel Aebischer (Switzerland).
Hellas Verona – 1: Rafik Belghali (Algeria).
Sampdoria – 1: Dennis Hadzikadunic (Bosnia).
Frosinone – 1: Fares Ghedjemis (Algeria).
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What happened
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, this editorial examines the contribution of Italy's top-flight clubs to their respective national team squads. It assesses which Serie A side boasts the largest contingent of players still in the running for World Cup selection, providing insight into the international standing and squad depth of Italian clubs. The piece serves as a barometer for which Italian clubs are producing or attracting the most internationally relevant talent heading into the tournament.
Chance analysis
This analysis is useful for understanding the relative squad quality and international pedigree of Serie A clubs. Teams supplying the most World Cup-bound players typically signal greater depth, tactical versatility, and global recognition. For prediction systems, clubs with heavy international representation may be more resilient to fixture congestion and international absences, while also indicating stronger recruitment and player development pipelines.
No direct match impact, but offers a snapshot of Serie A club quality rankings through the lens of international representation at the 2026 World Cup.
Use this as background context for evaluating Serie A club squad depth and international quality, rather than as a direct match predictor.