We’re less than 100 days away from the World Cup. Of course, it’ll be hosted by three countries for the first time in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
It’s hard not to have your eye on the international tournament despite Arsenal being in the thick of the English Premier League and Champions League title races. So excuse us as we eye-wander toward the World Cup, and specifically, how a few different Arsenal players look to fit for their respective teams.
England’s Core Is Arsenal’s Core
Per the latest gambling odds for soccer, Arsenal are the favorites to win the Champions League. In the same token, OnlineSportsBetting.net analysts rate the Three Lions as one of the favorites to win the World Cup. If both happen, it’ll likely take big efforts from two men — Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Gooners know the talents of both players well. Saka is the key cog to Arsenal’s offense with his creativity, both to create and score. Then there’s Rice, a do-everything player at midfield. Defense, offense, Rice can play both sides when his side needs him.
If England is going to bring it home for only the second time, both are vital. Manager Thomas Tuchel will have arguably the deepest team out of all 48 qualifying countries, and even then, the two Arsenal player makers are all but assured starters. Other likely starters include midfielder Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, and forwards Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon.
Folks, that’s a loaded team, not to mention all the other players England will have at their disposal (Phil Foden, anyone?). But as we all know, England hasn’t lacked talent for about a decade now. And despite that, international hardware has been lacking. Why? Mentality, most would argue.
But here’s the thing: if Arsenal finishes the 2026 campaign strong and adds a few trophies of their own, you’d think this confidence and momentum will carry over for Rice and Saka. The Champions League final is only days before World Cup training begins, and peaking play from Rice and Saka could be a difference-maker for both the club and country.
The Key To France’s Defense And Attack
And then there’s French National William Saliba. Gooners know he’s the anchor that holds the team together. As one of the best defenders in the world, Arsenal can play aggressively offensively because Saliba is back there to snuff out counters. Ironically, he plays the same role for France.
France is also one of the most-favored teams to win the World Cup after two straight appearances in the Final. That optimism stems from a world-class group of attackers. There’s Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, who will give opposing defenders nightmares all tourney long.
But dare we say that Saliba is more important to France’s success than, say, Rice and Saka are to England? Like we said, England has depth to replace anyone in its lineup. France can’t say the same, especially not on the defense. Saliba won’t get the attention that Mbappe or Dembele will, but he’s just as crucial to France’s chances at the World Cup.
Norway Returns To World Stage With Big Hopes
Norway doesn’t have one superstar anymore, it arguably has two in Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.
Norway is making its return to the World Cup after 28 long years. And most see them as the ultimate dark horse — a team that can shock the best countries like Argentina, Brazil, England, or France.
The belief stems partly from an Arsenal player, Martin Ødegaard. He’s emerged as a world-class player for Norway, and so has Antonio Nusa, who plays at RB Leipzig. The emergence of both means Norway is not the one-man team many thought it was. Yes, Erling Haaland is the global superstar, but he’s got some firepower with these two, as well.
Haaland will get the glory, but here we again, Ødegaard might end up being the unsung hero. He leads Norway’s midfield, and a strong outing in the World Cup could vault him to international fame. Gooners know how good Ødegaard is, but many other fanbases have yet to realize it. The World Cup makes stars, and Ødegaard is a likely candidate given his current form.
Brazil Needs A Boost
And then there’s Brazil, which is not as big a favorite as you’d think. That’s because the country has “come down to Earth” as of late. In CONMEBOL qualifying, Brazil had the same amount of points as Paraguay and Uruguay, two tiny countries compared to them. This was 10 points behind the reigning world champions, Argentina.
Brazil could use a boost. And sure, everyone is looking for that boost from superstar talent like Vinicius Jr., but it might come from Arsenal’s own Gabriel Martinelli. He’s still only 24 years old despite being with Arsenal since 2019. He’s starting to come into his own as a winger, something Brazil could use to find some balance on offense. Now, he’s not a guaranteed starter, by any means, but we think he’s trending toward it.
Those are Arsenal’s most likely players to feature and make noise at the World Cup. Others in the mix are Gabriel Jesus (Brazil), Martin Zubimendi (Spain), David Rays (Spain), Jurrien Timber (Netherlands), and Piero Hincapie (Ecuador). There’s still plenty to go before final rosters are selected, but Arsenal will be well-represented at the World Cup, that’s for sure.
