Arsenal is consistently a title contender in the Premier League (EPL), proving that Mikel Arteta’s squad is one of the best in the business. Sportsbet.io found out that some are in talks with national league coaches for the World Cup. If you want to know who, then read ahead. Here are the names you can expect to see in the 2026 World Cup.

Disclaimer: The following names are still just favourite picks from National Team head coaches worldwide. Most of them weren’t chosen to join the World Cup qualifiers in 2025 but they are considered for the main event in 2026.

Martin Odegaard (Norway)
Marin Odegaard is one of Arsenal’s most impressive players. He has played internationally since he was 15 years old in 2014 then became Norway national team captain in March 2021. Just a year later, he also earned captaincy for Arsenal and has maintained his position to the present day.

However, Odegaard never had the opportunity to join the World Cup because Norway didn’t qualify between 2002 to 2022. The upcoming 2026 World Cup is different because it will have 48 teams instead of 32 like in the 2022 edition. Norway is playing in the 2025 Qualifiers for a chance to join the main event and finally give Odegaard a shot at the trophy.

Riccardo Calafiori (Italy)
Riccardo Calafiori is one of the July 2024 transfers that make up Arteta’s amazing defence lineup. He brought amazing value to the team but it’s a two-way transaction because he joined the club to learn new hat tricks from the EPL. Team Italy expects to see his growth at the World Cup if they qualify for the 2026 roster.

Should Italy qualify for the World Cup 2026, Calafiori already secured a spot for the national team. It will be his first time participating in the biggest international competition and he’s doing it with experience from being at the top of the EPL 2024/25 standings with Arsenal.

Ben White (England)
Coach Thomas Tuchel is considering recalling Ben White. If approved, he will be playing with the national team against Albania and Latvia in 2025. The idea was proposed back in December 2024 and the fact that they’re still talking about him in Q1 2025 raises his odds.

White hasn’t played for Team England since March 2022 due to personal reasons. Reports state that it was due to a falling out with one of the national team assistant coaches, Steve Holland. His abstinence from the national team eclipsed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but there are hopes that he can join the Three Lions once again under Tuchel’s reign.

David Raya (Spain)
David Raya played for Arsenal in 2023/24 but only under loan from Brentford and officially joined the Gunners in 2024/25. The decision came with the announcement that he’s joining as one of his biggest decisions of the season. His plan is to return to form in one of the most competitive clubs in the EPL ahead of the next World Cup.

Raya isn’t a stranger to Team Spain. He earned his cap in 2022 and was in the squad for Qatar as a backup player. There are still no decisions on whether he’s going to be recalled for La Roja. However, he has a strong chance after his legendary double save in the Champions League clash between Arsenal and Atalanta on 20th September 2024.

Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil)
While most players are still speculated to participate in the World Cup 2026, Gabriel Magalhães has already earned his place in the Brazil squad. He’s just spending his time now establishing himself as a key figure for the Selecao. Magalhães has represented his team on the international stage since 2023 and it is a dream that he aims to continue working on.

To represent his national team is his dream but he continues to work hard as one of Arsenal’s biggest assets. His dedication to the sport earned him multiple ‘Player of the Month Awards’ in September, October, and December 2024. These are proof of his strong impact as a defender that Brazil surely wants to bring to the World Cup 2026.

Excluded Arsenal players from World Cup 2026 squads
Arsenal have a few other amazing players that fans would love to see play in the World Cup 2026 but are ruled out of national squads for one reason or another. In most cases, those reasons are injuries that rule them out for seasons on end. They are estimated to recover in 2025 but national team head coaches declared their exclusion.

Here are some of the best Arsenal players ruled out of World Cup 2026 appearance:
Bukayo Saka (England)
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s most valuable player. He’s a consistent right-winger and a regular starter in Team England since his international professional debut in 2020. Saka is with the Three Lions every step of the way but there’s a significant reason why he hasn’t secured a spot in the national team yet.

That reason is his injury. Saka suffered a terrible hamstring injury in Arsenal’s game against Crystal Palace in the EPL on 21st December 2024. It put him out of commission for a long time and almost ruled him out of the season. However, he is given an estimated date of return to training for 1st April as of writing but updates may change over time.

There are speculations that Saka won’t be fully recovered by then and will have to sit out Arsenal’s game with Real Madrid on 9th April. Even after he becomes available to play, there’s no news on whether he’ll make it to the World Cup Qualifiers. Should he make a steady recovery, then an update on his World Cup recall may turn up around May 2025.

Gabriel Jesus (Brazil)
Brazil national team boss, Fernando Diniz, insists on Gabrile Jesus’ inclusion. However, updates in August 2024 conclude that he and teammate Gabriel Martinelli are left out of coach Dorival Silverstre Jr’s squad. The reasons include intense competition for the forward position.

Another reason Gabriel Jesus couldn’t join the Qualifiers squad even if he was recalled is his recent injury. He is suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee which required surgery and a rehabilitation programme for recovery.

The Arsenal star forward incurred his injuries in their FA Cup tie against Manchester United on 12 January. Arteta and management announced that he is ruled out of the present competitive season including EPL, FA Cup, and Champions League. Jesus’ recovery is estimated for 31st July 2025 but it may be delayed further depending on his status.

Kai Havertz (Germany)
Kai Havertz’s last appearance with Team Germany was in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when he was still with Chelsea. He joined Arsenal in 2023 and was named for the national team again for UEFA Euro 2024 onwards. His international appearances would have continued but like Saka and Jesus before him, he was ruled out for the World Cup due to an injury.

Arteta had to rule Havertz out of the season after he suffered a hamstring injury during training in Dubai on 15th February 2026. Expected return to training is on 30th June 2025 (tentative) leaving Arsenal without a solid centre-forward. The injury required surgery and rehabilitation, putting Havertz out of commission for all present leagues.

Who has the best shot to reach the World Cup finals?
The most impactful factor in determining which Arsenal player will reach the finals is the team they’re playing for. If that’s the case, then the player who joined the favourites should have the highest chance to reach the finals.

With that in mind, then David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães are two of the most likely to reach the finals. The reason is that Spain and Brazil are co-favourites for the World Cup 2026 power rankings. Following closely is Ben White because England is in the top 4.

Bet on World Cup fixtures right here at Sportsbet.io
The World Cup 2026 is still a year away but the anticipation is high. Fans have been speculating about every national team’s lineups as soon as the last edition ended and answers become clearer as time goes on. These are the players who are most likely to appear in the upcoming World Cup, giving you the foundation to predict future outcomes.

Fixtures for the world’s most prestigious tournament will be available when schedules are shared. For now, you can bet on outrights during games while teams are still unseeded. Make your predictions now at Sportsbet.io and enjoy the bookmaker’s competitive odds.

Check out the promotions page for any football bonuses to improve your gambling experience. There’s the Mutlibet Football Challenge for all soccer-related betting or try your luck to win a share of the 10k USDT weekly jackpots. More World Cup-centric promotions will be available when the season officially starts so stay tuned for those offers.