Arsenal Lead London Clubs in 2026 World Cup Squad Count

Arsenal's international reach

The report lists Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze among England's representatives, alongside William Saliba of France and Spain's David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino.

Brazilian pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, Norway captain Martin Odegaard, Germany's Kai Havertz, Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres further underline the squad's reach.

That spread is significant. Arsenal are not relying on one dominant national core; their reported selections cover several leading football nations and almost every area of the pitch.

Palace's breadth, Chelsea's profile

Crystal Palace's reported 12-player contingent is the most striking challenge to the established hierarchy. The group includes Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daichi Kamada and Chris Richards, with representation stretching across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are listed with 11 players, including Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Marc Cucurella. Their group appears more concentrated around established internationals from major football nations, while Palace have built a broader geographical mix.

A snapshot of squad-building

Tottenham's reported 10 players, including Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and Andy Robertson, keep them close to the capital's leading clubs.

The numbers should not be treated as a definitive league table. World Cup selection reflects nationality, manager preference and international timing as much as domestic quality. Even so, Arsenal's lead points to the deepest reported international core, while Palace's total shows how quickly a club can expand its global footprint.

The next storyline will come after the tournament, when London managers must manage returning players, disrupted pre-seasons and the next transfer window.