Fifteen Arsenal players risk missing Premier League opener as World Cup final looms

Arsenal face a disrupted start to their 2026/27 Premier League title defence after the fixtures were revealed, with as many as 15 players currently competing at World Cup 2026 potentially unavailable for the season opener on 22 August.

The tournament in North America still has a month to run, with the final scheduled for 19 July — just over four weeks before the new Premier League campaign begins. While that gap may appear sufficient on paper, players reaching the latter stages of the competition could require extended rest periods before they are ready to feature competitively, particularly after an already gruelling 2025/26 season.

The Gunners endured an exhausting previous campaign, winning the league title for the first time in 22 years before suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. The physical toll of that run makes the World Cup scheduling all the more problematic for Mikel Arteta.

The most damaging scenario for Arsenal would be an England vs Spain final on 19 July. That outcome alone could leave up to seven players unavailable for the season opener. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze are all representing England, while David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi are part of Spain’s squad.

Brazil are the only other nation with more than one Arsenal player at the tournament. Defender Gabriel and winger Gabriel Martinelli are competing under Carlo Ancelotti, though Brazil made an underwhelming start with a 1-1 draw against Morocco.

William Saliba, representing France, and Kai Havertz, carrying Germany’s hopes, are among the remaining players considered to have a realistic chance of progressing deep into the competition. Every other Arsenal representative at the World Cup is the sole player from their club in their respective national squads.

The full list of Arsenal players at World Cup 2026 includes Saka, Rice, Eze, and Madueke for England; Saliba for France; Havertz for Germany; and Raya, Merino, and Zubimendi for Spain, alongside Gabriel and Martinelli for Brazil.