More than 1 in 10 2026 World Cup players have played in the EFL- we break down all 141

Peripheral have researched every current and former EFL player at the FIFA 2026 World Cup, finding that:

• 141 of the 1,248 World Cup players have made an EFL appearance (11.3%)

• Between them they've racked up 11,306 EFL appearances

• Of these, 127 have played in the Championship, 42 in League One and 20 in League Two

• 3 in 4 World Cup nations have at least one current or former EFL player (36/48)

• England (20, 77%) and Scotland (15, 58%) have the most of any nation

• 11 nations have at least 5 current or former EFL players

Arguably, England has the strongest lower league system in the world. It has always been a great place for talent to emerge, and countless iconic players have learned their trade in the EFL.

The 2026 World Cup highlights this, as 141 players at the tournament in North America have spent time playing in the EFL.

These alumni have racked up 11,306 appearances between them. EFL players have had a significant influence on the tournament so far with 4 of the first 7 tournament goals having been scored by current EFL players. This isn't surprising, seen by the wealth of talent among the 127 current and ex-Championship players who are representing their national squads.

Our research found that 36 nations have at least 1 EFL alumni, meaning the depth and competitiveness of England's historic league system is contributing to almost every nations' prospects of performing well at the tournament.

This is a point of pride for the fans of the 79 clubs who have had a 2026 World Cup player play for them while they were in the EFL.

Peripheral have broken down this data further, highlighting the clubs and countries who are most represented by this pool of players.

Which clubs gave the most players to the World Cup?

Players at the World Cup have played for 79 different clubs in the EFL. Birmingham City have the most current and former World Cup players, most notably Jude Bellingham who made 41 appearances in the 2021-2022 season and has since gone on to win the Champions League with Real Madrid. They have also influenced the careers of players of other nations including Curacao, Bosnia and South Korea.

Coventry, Reading and Sheffield United all have 9 current and former players at the World Cup. Norwich City have 5 current players at the 2026 World Cup, representing nations including Scotland, Australia and Tunisia.

Which teams have the most current players at the tournament?

43 players who played in the EFL in 2025-2026 are at the World Cup. 37 of these played in the Championship, with 6 in League One.

As well as Norwich who have five World Cup players, Swansea, Watford, Leicester, Hull and Southampton have three. Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and Australia all have four or more current EFL players.

Which notable World Cup players have previously played in the EFL?

Many of the stars at the 2026 tournament have spent time developing their craft in the EFL. England's all time leading scorer Harry Kane had 3 lower league loan spells, scoring in the Championship and League One for Leicester, Millwall and Leyton Orient before making his mark in the Premier League for Tottenham.

Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise both spent time in the EFL before reaching the top, playing multiple seasons at QPR and Reading before going on to win titles at Arsenal and Bayern Munich respectively.

2022 World Cup final penalty shootout hero Emi Martinez has played for 5 EFL clubs, also being one of 20 World Cup players to have ever featured in League Two. At the age of 19, he appeared once for Oxford United in an emergency loan on the last day of the season. He would not have been happy with how his first professional appearance went, ending in a 3-0 defeat to Port Vale.

Some other World Cup stars have made a significant number of appearances in the EFL. Sweden's Viktor Gyökeres, England's Ollie Watkins and Ghana's Antoine Semenyo have all played more than 100 EFL games whilst Ivan Toney made 263 appearances for 7 clubs, in all 3 divisions.

Which countries have the most EFL alumni?

England and Scotland have the most players in their squads who have ever played in the EFL. 20 out of England's 26 have spent time in the lower leagues, 13 of whom made an appearance in League One or League Two and the group notched up a combined total of 1,763 EFL appearances.

Scotland brought 15 players who have played in the EFL. Out of these, 5 have played more than 200 EFL games and 5 are still currently playing in the English Football League. Although fewer of their squad have EFL experience, the ones who do have made more EFL appearances than the England squad.

Some non-home nations have numerous players who have been developed in England's lower leagues. Nine of these countries have at least 5 current and ex-EFL players (Curacao, Ghana, Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, USA, Netherlands). In fact, five players who featured in Curacao's historic draw with Ecuador previously played in the EFL.

Who are the 20 World Cup players who have played in League Two?

20 players at the World Cup have spent time playing in England's fourth tier. This includes 6 of the current England Squad, and players from another 7 nations. These current and former League Two players are having a significant impact on the tournament.

The previously mentioned Emi Martinez has kept two clean sheets for tournament contenders Argentina, Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante assisted Ghana's crucial late winner against Panama, and a resilient Cameron Burgess helped Australia keep a clean sheet against Turkey in their 2-0 win.

Which EFL veterans are at the tournament?

Four players with over 300 EFL appearances are at the World Cup.

New Zealand's 36-year old Tommy Smith has played 359 EFL games, for 6 teams and in all 3 divisions. Most prominently, he spent over 10 years at Ipswich representing New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup while he was there. He currently plays in England's sixth tier, for Braintree Town.

Scotland's Dominic Hyam and Grant Hanley, and Cameron Burgess of Australia have also made over 300 appearances in the English Football League. Burgess has represented 8 different clubs in the EFL. Grant Hanley made nearly 300 appearances in the Championship alone, most notably captaining Norwich to their 2018-19 promotion to the Premier League.

What about current and former Premier League players?

Peripheral have made a quiz where you can guess all the players at the 2026 World Cup who ever played for any of the 20 Premier League teams. Click here to see how many you can get.

Full list of current and former EFL players at the World Cup

Player	Country	Position	Clubs	Divisions	EFL Appearances
Tommy Smith	New Zealand	DF	Ipswich Town, Brentford, Colchester United, Sunderland, Milton Keynes Dons	Championship, League One, League Two	359
Dominic Hyam	Scotland	DF	Dagenham & Redbridge, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Wrexham	League Two, League One, Championship	347
Cameron Burgess	Australia	DF	Fulham, Oldham Athletic, Bury, Scunthorpe United, Salford City, Accrington Stanley, Ipswich Town, Swansea City	Championship, League One, League Two	319
Grant Hanley	Scotland	DF	Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Birmingham City	Championship, League One	309
Tim Ream	USA	DF	Bolton, Fulham	Championship	298
Brandon Thomas-Asante	Ghana	FW	Milton Keynes Dons, Salford City, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City	League One, League Two, Championship	269
Ivan Toney	England	FW	Northampton Town, Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United, Wigan Athletic, Peterborough United, Brentford	League Two, League One, Championship	263
Alfie Jones	Canada	DF	Gillingham, Hull City, Middlesbrough	League One, Championship	232
Lyndon Dykes	Scotland	FW	Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic	Championship, League One	222
Kenny McLean	Scotland	MF	Norwich City	Championship	215
Dan Burn	England	DF	Darlington, Fulham, Yeovil Town, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic	League Two, Championship, League One	215
Viktor Johansson	Sweden	GK	Rotherham United, Stoke City	Championship, League One	206
Ché Adams	Scotland	FW	Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Southampton	League One, Championship	203
Leandro Bacuna	Curacao	MF	Aston Villa, Reading, Cardiff City, Watford	Championship	202
Ollie Watkins	England	FW	Exeter, Brentford	League Two, Championship	200
Juninho Bacuna	Curacao	MF	Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City	Championship	186
David Raya	Spain	GK	Blackburn, Brentford	Championship, League One	186
George Hirst	Scotland	FW	Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town	Championship, League One	170
Angus Gunn	Scotland	GK	Norwich City, Stoke City	Championship	166
Max Crocombe	New Zealand	GK	Oxford United, Barnet, Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Burton Albion, Millwall	League Two, League One, Championship	164
Ivan Šunjić	Bosnia and Herzegovina	MF	Birmingham	Championship	160
Thelo Aasgaard	Norway	MF	Wigan, Luton	Championship, League One	157
Jackson Irvine	Australia	MF	Burton Albion, Hull City	Championship	152
Antoine Semenyo	Ghana	MF	Bristol City, Newport County, Sunderland	Championship, League Two, League One	140
Edo Kayembe	DR Congo	MF	Watford	Championship	137
Harry Souttar	Australia	DF	Stoke City, Fleetwood Town, Leicester City, Sheffield United	Championship, League One	132
Antonee Robinson	USA	DF	Bolton, Wigan, Fulham	Championship	130
Bae Jun-ho	South Korea	MF	Stoke	Championship	125
Brice Samba	France	GK	Nottingham Forest	Championship	125
Eberechi Eze	England	MF	Queens Park Rangers, Wycombe Wanderers	Championship, League Two	124
Ken Sema	Sweden	MF	Watford	Championship	124
James Trafford	England	GK	Accrington Stanley, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley	League One, Championship	123
Viktor Gyökeres	Sweden	FW	Swansea, Coventry	Championship	121
Owen Goodman	Canada	GK	Colchester, Wimbledon, Huddersfield, Barnsley	League One, League Two	116
Ezri Konsa	England	DF	Charlton, Brentford	Championship, League One	113
Haji Wright	USA	FW	Coventry	Championship	111
Tahith Chong	Curacao	MF	Birmingham, Luton, Sheffield United	Championship	109
Tyler Bindon	New Zealand	DF	Reading, Sheffield United	Championship, League One	109
Djed Spence	England	DF	Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United	Championship	109
Jean Michaël Seri	Ivory Coast	MF	Fulham, Hull	Championship	109
Liam Millar	Canada	MF	Charlton Athletic, Preston North End, Hull City	League One, Championship	106
Paik Seung-ho	South Korea	MF	Birmingham	Championship, League One	102
Ross Stewart	Scotland	FW	Sunderland, Southampton	League One, Championship	98
Ben Waine	New Zealand	FW	Plymouth Argyle, Mansfield Town, Port Vale	League One, Championship	94
Ali Al-Hamadi	Iraq	FW	Wycombe Wanderers, AFC Wimbledon, Ipswich Town, Stoke City, Luton Town	League One, League Two, Championship	94
Dean Henderson	England	GK	Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield United	League Two, League One, Championship	91
Ivor Pandur	Croatia	GK	Hull	Championship	89
Jordan Pickford	England	GK	Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City, Preston North End	League Two, League One, Championship	87
Morgan Rogers	England	MF	Lincoln, Bournemouth, Blackpool, Middlesbrough	League One, Championship	86
Abdul Fatawu	Ghana	FW	Leicester	Championship	84
Eom Ji-sung	South Korea	MF	Swansea	Championship	81
Trevor Chalobah	England	DF	Ipswich, Huddersfield	Championship	79
Ismaïla Sarr	Senegal	FW	Watford	Championship	78
Jefferson Lerma	Colombia	MF	Bournemouth	Championship	76
Iliman Ndiaye	Senegal	FW	Sheffield United	Championship	76
Hannibal Mejbri	Tunisia	MF	Birmingham, Burnley	Championship	75
Jacob Widell Zetterström	Sweden	GK	Derby	Championship	72
Yan Valery	Tunisia	DF	Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday	Championship	69
Scott McKenna	Scotland	DF	Nottingham Forest	Championship	69
Sander Berge	Norway	MF	Sheffield United	Championship	68
Michael Olise	France	FW	Reading	Championship	67
Jordan Ayew	Ghana	FW	Aston Villa, Leicester	Championship	63
José Córdoba	Panama	DF	Norwich	Championship	62
Aaron Tshibola	DR Congo	MF	Reading, Hartlepool United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Milton Keynes Dons	League Two, League One, Championship	60
Anis Ben Slimane	Tunisia	MF	Norwich, Sheffield United	Championship	58
Ismaël Koné	Canada	MF	Watford	Championship	58
Egil Selvik	Norway	GK	Watford	Championship	56
Jerome Opoku	Ghana	DF	Accrington, Plymouth	League One	54
Harry Kane	England	FW	Leyton Orient, Millwall, Leicester	Championship, League One	53
Marc Guéhi	England	DF	Swansea	Championship	52
Axel Tuanzebe	DR Congo	DF	Aston Villa, Stoke, Ipswich	Championship	52
Leo Østigård	Norway	DF	Coventry, Stoke	Championship	52
Emiliano Martínez	Argentina	GK	Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Reading	Championship, League Two	51
Abdul Rahman Baba	Ghana	DF	Reading	Championship	47
Torbjørn Heggem	Norway	DF	West Brom	Championship	46
Brenden Aaronson	USA	FW	Leeds	Championship	46
Reece James	England	DF	Wigan	Championship	45
Auston Trusty	USA	DF	Birmingham, Sheffield United	Championship	45
Crysencio Summerville	Netherlands	FW	Leeds	Championship	43
Ao Tanaka	Japan	MF	Leeds	Championship	43
Christian Fassnacht	Switzerland	FW	Norwich	Championship	43
Rúben Neves	Portugal	MF	Wolves	Championship	42
Andy Robertson	Scotland	DF	Hull	Championship	42
Ar'jany Martha	Curacao	MF	Rotherham	League One	41
Jude Bellingham	England	MF	Birmingham	Championship	41
Nestory Irankunda	Australia	FW	Watford	Championship	40
Saman Ghoddos	Iran	MF	Brentford	Championship	40
John McGinn	Scotland	MF	Aston Villa	Championship	40
Lyle Foster	South Africa	FW	Burnley	Championship	39
Sondre Langås	Norway	DF	Derby	Championship	38
Ryan Christie	Scotland	MF	Bournemouth	Championship	38
Amir Hadžiahmetović	Bosnia and Herzegovina	MF	Hull	Championship	37
Amad Diallo	Ivory Coast	FW	Sunderland	Championship	37
Duckens Nazon	Haiti	FW	Coventry, Oldham	League One, League Two	37
Marko Stamenić	New Zealand	MF	Swansea	Championship	36
Aiden O'Neill	Australia	MF	Oldham Athletic, Fleetwood Town	League One	36
Johny Placide	Haiti	GK	Oldham	League One	36
Ørjan Nyland	Norway	GK	Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Reading	Championship	34
Jan Paul van Hecke	Netherlands	DF	Blackburn	Championship	31
Matthew Garbett	New Zealand	MF	Peterborough	League One	30
Gustavo Puerta	Colombia	DF	Hull	Championship	30
Kamaldeen Sulemana	Ghana	FW	Southampton	Championship	25
Matěj Kovář	Czechia	GK	Swindon, Burton Albion	League One	24
John Stones	England	DF	Barnsley	Championship	24
Ben Gannon-Doak	Scotland	FW	Middlesbrough	Championship	24
Yasin Ayari	Sweden	MF	Coventry, Blackburn	Championship	23
Yunus Akgün	Turkey	FW	Leicester	Championship	23
Kristoffer Nordfeldt	Sweden	GK	Swansea	Championship	22
Elliot Anderson	England	MF	Bristol Rovers	League Two	21
Seko Fofana	Ivory Coast	MF	Fulham	Championship	21
Ali Ahmed	Canada	FW	Norwich	Championship	19
Riyad Mahrez	Algeria	FW	Leicester	Championship	19
Liam Kelly	Scotland	GK	QPR	Championship	19
Joseph Anang	Ghana	GK	Stevenage	League Two	18
Folarin Balogun	USA	FW	Middlesbrough	Championship	18
Sontje Hansen	Curacao	FW	Middlesbrough	Championship	17
Cyle Larin	Canada	FW	Southampton	Championship	16
Tete Yengi	Australia	FW	Northampton	League Two	16
Jarell Quansah	England	DF	Bristol Rovers	League One	16
Nikola Katić	Bosnia and Herzegovina	DF	Plymouth	Championship	15
Kenji Gorré	Curacao	FW	Northampton	League One	13
Jack Hendry	Scotland	DF	Shrewsbury, MK Dons	League One	13
Liberato Cacace	New Zealand	DF	Wrexham	Championship	12
Nuno da Costa	Cape Verde	MF	Nottingham Forest	Championship	12
Gervane Kastaneer	Curacao	FW	Coventry	Championship, League One	12
Chancel Mbemba	DR Congo	DF	Newcastle	Championship	12
Gustavo Caballero	Paraguay	MF	Portsmouth	Championship	12
Mohamed Touré	Australia	FW	Norwich	Championship	11
Anthony Gordon	England	FW	Preston	Championship	11
Jordan Henderson	England	MF	Coventry	Championship	10
Hjalmar Ekdal	Sweden	DF	Burnley	Championship	9
Richie Laryea	Canada	DF	Nottingham Forest	Championship	5
Nathan Aké	Netherlands	DF	Reading	Championship	5
Saeid Ezatolahi	Iran	MF	Reading	Championship	4
Braian Ojeda	Paraguay	MF	Nottingham Forest	Championship	3
Yukinari Sugawara	Japan	DF	Southampton	Championship	2
Zeki Amdouni	Switzerland	FW	Burnley	Championship	2
Bilal El Khannouss	Morocco	MF	Leicester	Championship	2
Wout Weghorst	Netherlands	FW	Burnley	Championship	2
Shurandy Sambo	Curacao	DF	Burnley	Championship	1
Marten de Roon	Netherlands	MF	Middlesbrough	Championship	1