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Which Serie A side has the most players left in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals?

8 July 2026 at 15:38

The 2026 World Cup round of 16 is now complete, and heading into the quarter-finals, Milan’s five remaining players mean that they are the best represented Serie A side at the tournament in North America. 

France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, Argentina and Switzerland are the eight sides that will compete in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, which will kick off on Thursday evening: France vs. Morocco the first game on the schedule.

In terms of Serie A representation, Milan have provided the most quarter-finalists of any Italian team with France duo Adrien Rabiot and Mike Maignan, Belgian pair Koni De Winter and Alexis Saelemaekers and Switzerland midfielder Ardon Jashari. 

MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 08: Mike Maignan of AC Milan looks on during 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)
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Mike Maignan of AC Milan looks on during 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)

Inter are the second-most represented Serie A side in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals with three representatives in the form of France’s Marcus Thuram, Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez and Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji.

Roma, Napoli and Bologna each have two representatives: The Giallorossi with Neil El-Aynaoui (Morocco) and Manu Kone (France), the Partenopei with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku of Belgium and The Rossoblu with Norway’s Torbjorn Heggem and Switzerland’s Remo Freuler. 

Atalanta, Como, Genoa, Torino, Sassuolo, Cremonese and Pisa all have one player each left at the 2026 World Cup.

Which Serie A players are left at the 2026 World Cup?

Milan: Adrien Rabiot (France), Mike Maignan (France), Koni De Winter (Belgium), Alexis Saelemaekers (Belgium), Ardon Jashari (Switzerland).

Inter: Marcus Thuram (France), Lautaro Martinez (Argentina), Manuel Akanji (Switzerland).

MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 05: Lautaro Martinez of Inter celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Lautaro Martinez of Inter celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Roma: Manu Kone (France), Neil El-Aynaoui (Morocco).

Napoli: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Romelu Lukaku (Belgium).

Bologna: Torbjorn Heggem (Norway), Remo Freuler (Switzerland). 

Atalanta: Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium).

Como: Nico Paz (Argentina).

COMO, ITALY - APRIL 12: Argentina international Nico Paz of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) (Inter links)
COMO, ITALY – APRIL 12: Nico Paz of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Genoa: Leo Ostigard (Norway).

Torino: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Norway). 

Sassuolo: Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway).

Cremonese: Morten Thorsby (Norway).

Pisa: Michel Aebischer (Switzerland).

 

21 Serie A players left as 2026 World Cup moves into quarter-finals

8 July 2026 at 15:24

21 Serie A and Serie B representatives are left standing as the 2026 World Cup moves into the quarter-final stages following the final two round of 16 ties on Tuesday night. 

With no Italy at the tournament in North America, Belgium and Norway might be the two nations for the Serie A neutral to support heading into the quarter-finals. They have the most ‘Italian’ representatives in their squads with five players apiece. 

France and Switzerland are also well represented by Serie A and Serie B talents, with four players in each of their squads. 

ROME, ITALY - MAY 13: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates his side's first goal, an own goal by Adam Marusic of Lazio (not pictured), during the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates his side’s first goal, an own goal by Adam Marusic of Lazio (not pictured), during the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Argentina have two Serie A stars in their ranks with Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz, while Morocco’s sole ‘Italian’ representative is Roma’s Neil El-Aynaoui. Spain and England are without Serie A representation. 

But we want to know who you will be rooting for heading into the final eight at the 2026 World Cup. Let us know in the comments below.

Which Serie A players are left at the 2026 World Cup?

France: Manu Kone (Roma), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Mike Maignan (Milan).

MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 08: Mike Maignan of AC Milan looks on during 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)
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Mike Maignan of AC Milan looks on during 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)

Morocco: Neil El-Aynaoui (Roma).

Spain: None.

Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Koni De Winter (Milan), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan).

Norway: Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Leo Ostigard (Genoa), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo).

England: None.

Argentina: Nico Paz (Como), Lautaro Martinez (Inter).

ROME, ITALY - MAY 13: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates after the team's victory in the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates after the team’s victory in the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Switzerland: Manuel Akanji (Inter), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Milan), Michel Aebischer (Pisa).

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