FC Barcelona achieved an unprecedented milestone at the 2026 World Cup, with ten players reaching the semifinal stage — a historic record for the club in this phase of the tournament.
This surpasses Barcelona's previous record from the 2010 South Africa World Cup when eight players participated, all representing the Spanish national team. This year, the club is represented in the semifinals by players from four of the top national sides: Spain, France, England, and Argentina.
Club president Joan Laporta showed strong support by traveling to Dallas on July 13 to accompany the players during this critical stage. Eight players will represent Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Joan García. Jules Koundé plays for France, while new signing Anthony Gordon, joining for the 2026/27 season, represents England.
Comparatively, Barcelona leads among European clubs with the most semifinalists at the World Cup 2026. Atlético Madrid follows with nine players, while Arsenal has eight. This underscores the club’s international standing and influence in modern football.
Since at least one Barcelona player will appear in the final, this milestone reflects the club’s successful player strategy and contributes positively to its financial health and global image over time.
With players returning to preseason training under Hansi Flick amidst this record representation, Barcelona demonstrates a highly competitive squad on the international stage.
