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The 15 Arsenal players still at the World Cup for the Round of 32

Find out when the Arsenal players at the World Cup will be in action in the knockout stages
New Zealand v Belgium: Group G - FIFA World Cup 2026
New Zealand v Belgium: Group G - FIFA World Cup 2026 | Christopher Morris/ISI Photos/GettyImages

15 Arsenal players are currently competing at the World Cup, with only Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain sending more representatives. Well, all 15 of these players are still at the tournament, having survived the group stages.

With the knockout phase now underway, check out when these Gunners will be in action, how busy they have been so far, and the likelihood of their campaigns coming to an end in the first knockout round.

Brazil: Gabriel & Gabriel Martinelli

  • Next match vs Japan. Monday 29 June. Kick off 6pm (BST)
Gabriel Brazi
June 13, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes reacts. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images | Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Gabriel has played all 270 minutes for Brazil so far, one of the first names on Carlo Ancelotti's team sheet. The centre-back has won 16 of the 18 duels he has contested, the best ratio of any player to have contested 15 or more, continuing to be the big Gabi all Gooners know.

Gabriel Martinell meantime has come off the bench shortly after the hour mark during Brazil's last two matches, very much Vinícius Júnior's deputy, unlikely to start any time soon.

Germany: Kai Havertz

  • Next match vs Paraguay. Monday 29 June. Kick off 9:30pm (BST)
Kai Havertz Germany
June 14, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Germany's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their third goal. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Kai Havertz began this World Cup campaign with a brace against Curaçao, having also scored during a friendly win over co-hosts USA in Illinois a week earlier. Despite Deniz Undav's goals off the bench, Havertz continues to be Julian Nagelsmann's first-choice centre-forward.

Norway: Martin Ødegaard

  • Next match vs Côte d'Ivoire. Tuesday 30 June. Kick off 5pm (BST)
Martin Odegaar Norway
June 22, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Norway's Martin Odegaard. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images | Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Martin Ødegaard registered an assist during Norway's wins over Iraq and then Senegal, the second an inch-perfect through-ball for Erling Håland. Ståle Solbakken then made wholesale changes against France of Friday, making sure Ødegaard and other stars are ready for the knockouts.

France: William Saliba

  • Next match vs Sweden. Tuesday 30 June. Kick off 10pm (BST)
Saliba Franc
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France defender William Saliba (17) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Similarly, William Saliba started France's first two matches, despite reports of a back issue, before being rested against Norway. Nevertheless, Saliba will be a starter for Didier Deschamps, as long as les Bleus are in this tournament, which could be a little while longer.

Sweden: Viktor Gyökeres

  • Next match vs France. Tuesday 30 June. Kick off 10pm (BST)
Viktor Gyokeres Swede
June 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Japan's Shogo Taniguchi in action as Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres shoots at goal. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Well, on Tuesday, Saliba will be up against a centre-forward he is familiar with. Viktor Gyökeres' four goals in March's play-offs are the reason Sweden made it to the World Cup, before both scoring and registering an assist in their opener against Tunisia. He has played every minute of every game so far, and will start when Graham Potter's team take on France, with Sweden unlikely to go any further.

Ecuador: Piero Hincapié

  • Next match vs Mexico. Tuesday 30 June. Kick off 2am Wed morning (BST)
Piero Hincapie Ecuador
Jun 25, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie (3) in action against Germany during a Group E match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Piero Hincapié has started all three of Ecuador's games to date, deployed by Sebastián Beccacece as both a left-back and a centre-back in a three, showing the versatility that Mikel Arteta values so much. If Ecuador are to upset co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca, Hincapié will remain key to their hopes.

England: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke & Eberechi Eze

  • Next match vs DR Congo. Wednesday 1 July. Kick off 5pm (BST)
Declan Rice Englan
June 23, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.; England's Declan Rice reacts. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Mixed fortunes for the quartet of Arsenal players in Thomas Tuchel's England squad. Declan Rice is nursing a back injury, so did not feature against Panama on Saturday, but did start the first two matches, and will be key to the Three Lions' hopes going forward.

On the right-wing, Noni Madueke started the first two matches, before Bukayo Saka came in at the weekend, with the two very much vying to be the starter going forward. Lastly, Eberechi Eze has come off the bench for late cameos against Ghana and Panama, very much not a key player, but he is likely to see minutes.

Belgium: Leandro Trossard

  • Next match vs Senegal. Wednesday 1 July. Kick off 9pm (BST)
Leandro Trossard Belgiu
June 26, 2026; Vancouver, Canada; Belgium's Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring their second goal. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images | Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images

Belgium have been largely underwhelming at this tournament, with Leandro Trossard a rare bright spot. His tally of 13 chances created during the group stage was the most of any player from any team, scoring twice and bagging an assist against New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday. The Red Devils' last 32 tie with Senegal is tough, and Trossard will be key to their hopes of victory.

Spain: Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi & David Raya

  • Next match vs Austria. Thursday 2 July. Kick off 8pm (BST)
David Raya Spai
June 15, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; Spain's David Raya during the warm up before the match. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Lastly, despite there being three Arsenal players in the Spain squad, they've not seen very many minutes. David Raya won't feature, baring an injury to Luis de la Fuente's first-choice Unai Simón, while Martín Zubimendi is yet to get off the bench either. Meantime, Mikel Merino was introduced as a substitute during the first two games, before starting against Uruguay. Given that he missed half of last season injury, it might actually be beneficial for Arsenal if Merino does continue to see action.

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