Which Premier League players went out of World Cup 2026 early? Which clubs could benefit from pre-quarters exits?
Updated 12/07/2026 at 00:28 GMT+1
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After a thrilling round of 16, we are now truly in the business end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Enjoy it, drink it in because, before you know it, the showpiece event will soon be over and the countdown to the start of another exciting domestic season will begin.
Bruno Fernandes
Image credit: Getty Images
The Premier League will take centre stage once again in August for the 2026/27 campaign, with Arsenal hoping to defend their crown after their historic triumph last term.
However, an action-packed summer could have a massive impact on the English top flight over the coming months, with fitness, fatigue and fixture congestion expected to play a major role at the top and bottom of the table.
With that in mind, let’s look at which players returned home before the World Cup quarter-finals, and think about which sides will benefit from those early exits.
AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth sent six players to this summer’s World Cup, but they only have two stars left standing.
Alex Paulsen was part of the New Zealand squad who finished bottom of Group G, while Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak could not help Scotland qualify as one of the best third-place sides.
Justin Kluivert will head home likely with a major sense of disappointment as he missed one of the penalties in the Netherlands' loss to Morocco.
Tyler Adams of the United States was the last man standing, but defeat to Belgium saw him head home.
OUT: Alex Paulsen [New Zealand], Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak [Scotland], Justin Kluivert [Netherlands], Rayan [Brazil], Tyler Adams [United States]
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Arsenal
All 15 Arsenal players at this summer’s World Cup made it through to the round of 32, including the English quartet of Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka.
Kai Havertz was the first Arsenal player to depart North America following Germany's shock loss to Paraguay.
Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie soon followed after Sweden and Ecuador respectively lost in the last 32. Hincapie was sent off for covering his mouth in Ecuador's defeat to Mexico.
Brazil's shock loss to Norway saw Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli bow out.
OUT: Kai Havertz [Germany], Viktor Gyokeres [Sweden], Piero Hincapie [Ecuador], Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli [Brazil]
Aston Villa
Spare a thought for John McGinn, who is the only one of Aston Villa’s 10 players at the World Cup who failed to make it out of the group stages.
However, he did his country proud, scoring the decisive goal in their only win at the tournament, a 1-0 victory over Haiti.
Defender Victor Lindelof saw his World Cup ended in the last 32 as Sweden lost to France.
Unai Emery's men have suffered a huge injury blow too, after Belgium confirmed Amadou Onana ruptured his ACL in their win over the United States.
It means the midfielder is not only out of the tournament but is unlikely to play again this calendar year.
OUT: John McGinn [Scotland], Victor Lindelof [Sweden], Evann Guessand [Cote d'Ivoire], Amadou Onana [Belgium, injury]
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Brentford
Brentford’s Aaron Hickey also suffered an early exit with Scotland.
Brazil's exit at the hands of Norway ended Igor Thiago's involvement.
Jordan Henderson is still at the World Cup, but his competition looks to be over following the injury he picked up after England's win over Mexico.
OUT: Aaron Hickey [Scotland], Igor Thiago [Brazil]
Brighton & Hove Albion
Tipped as one of the dark horses for the tournament by some, Turkey showed why they are building a reputation as perennial underachievers, as they finished bottom of Group D. Seagulls star Ferdi Kadioglu is heading home as a result.
Kadioglu was followed home by Pascal Gross, whose Germany side were beaten by Paraguay in a penalty shoot-out.
There were two more Seagulls on the way home later on Monday, as the Netherlands' loss to Morocco saw Bart Verbrugggen and Mats Wieffer depart, with Yasin Ayari soon following after Sweden lost to France.
Diego Gomez is also out after Paraguay's ill-tempered defeat to France.
OUT: Ferdi Kadioglu [Turkey], Pascal Gross [Germany], Bart Verbruggen and Mats Wieffer [Netherlands], Yasin Ayari [Sweden], Diego Gomez [Paraguay]
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Chelsea
Eleven Chelsea players were selected for their national teams for the tournament, and they have started to trickle home.
Nicolas Jackson and Mamadou Sarr head back to Stamford Bridge following Senegal's loss to Belgium, with teammate Mike Penders continuing his stay in North America.
Jorrel Hato was the first Chelsea player to depart after Morocco dumped out the Netherlands on penalties, followed by Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez after Ecuador lost to Mexico.
Pedro Neto's journey at the World Cup was ended when Portugal lost to Spain.
OUT: Jorrel Hato [Netherlands], Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez [Ecuador], Nicolas Jackson and Mamadou Sarr [Senegal], Pedro Neto [Portugal]
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Coventry City
Coventry City had two players at the World Cup, the USA’s Haji Wright and Brandon Thomas-Asante of Ghana.
OUT: Brandon Thomas-Asante [Ghana], Haji Wright [United States]
Crystal Palace
Surprisingly, Crystal Palace are one of the most well-represented clubs at the tournament, with 12 players selected for their national teams this summer.
All 12 of their internationals qualified for the round of 32, but spare a thought for Yeremy Pino, who could miss the rest of the tournament after being injured in Spain's final group game against Uruguay.
Daichi Kamada was the first Palace player to bite the dust, as Japan were sent packing by Brazil, while Evann Guessand's Cote d'Ivoire lost to Norway, and Ismaila Sarr's Senegal crashed out to Belgium.
Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma both departed when Colombia were knocked out by Switzerland on penalties in the last-16.
OUT: Daichi Kamada [Japan], Evann Guessand [Cote d'Ivoire], Ismaila Sarr [Senegal], Owen Goodman [Canada], Chris Richards [United States], Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma [Colombia]
Everton
Four Everton players were selected, but only one did not make it out of the group stage.
Nathan Patterson was the first to go, while Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye of Senegal had their hearts broken by Belgium.
Jordan Pickford continues to fly the flag, with England through to the quarter-finals following their iconic 3-2 win against Mexico.
OUT: Nathan Patterson [Scotland], Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye [Senegal]
Fulham
All six of Fulham’s World Cup heroes made it through to the round of 32. They include the Norway duo of Oscar Bobb and Sander Berge.
Luc de Fougerolles is heading home following Canada's elimination in the last 16, while Antonee Robinson departed after United States lost to Belgium.
OUT: Luc de Fougerolles [Canada], Antonee Robinson [United States]
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Hull City
Hull will return to the Premier League next term after they came out on top in the play-offs.
The Tigers had two players at the World Cup, and both made it to the round of 32.
However, Amir Hadziahmetovic was the first to come home, after Bosnia and Herzegovina's loss to the USA, and Liam Miller also exited after Canada's loss to Morocco.
OUT: Amir Hadziahmetovic [Bosnia and Herzegovina], Liam Millar [Canada]
Ipswich Town
Ipswich will also be back at the pinnacle of English football for the 2026/27 campaign, but their internationals have not been as fortunate as the Hull players competing across the pond.
Both Iraq’s Ali Al-Hamadi and Scotland’s George Hirst were on early flights home after their national teams failed to make it past the group stage.
OUT: Ali Al-Hamadi [Iraq], George Hirst [Scotland]
Leeds United
Four Leeds players were selected by their national teams for the World Cup, and two have been sent home.
Ao Tanaka of Japan was eliminated when Brazil came from behind to triumph 2-1 in the last 32.
Sweden's Gabriel Gudmundsson suffered last-32 defeat with Sweden.
Switzerland's Noah Okafor will all hope to avoid the same fate.
OUT: Ao Tanaka [Japan], Gabriel Gudmundsson [Sweden], Brenden Aaronson [United States]
Liverpool
Liverpool’s World Cup contingent grows smaller by the day, but not just because their players are being eliminated from the tournament.
Out-of-contract defender Ibrahima Konate will join Real Madrid this summer, while Andy Robertson will join Tottenham Hotspur when his contract expires.
Mohamed Salah will also depart as a free transfer this summer, and Wataru Endo was forced to withdraw from Japan’s squad due to injury.
Of the players still on Liverpool's books, Florian Wirtz was the first to head after Germany were stunned by Paraguay.
Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo were also on the way home following Netherlands' loss to Morocco.
Alexander Isak is heading back after Sweden were beaten by France, as is Alisson following Brazil's loss to Norway.
OUT: Wataru Endo [Japan], Florian Wirtz [Germany], Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo [Netherlands], Alexander Isak [Sweden], Alisson [Brazil]
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Manchester City
Man City are in a similar position, with John Stones and Bernardo Silva both set to leave the club this summer.
However, only one of their players was knocked out of the tournament during the group stage, Abdukodir Khusanov of Uzbekistan.
Dutch defender Nathan Ake was a second-half substitute as the Netherlands lost on penalties to Morocco. Tijjani Reijnders did not get off the bench in that game.
Josko Gvardiol suffered elimination with Croatia in heartbreaking fashion after having his 103rd-minute equaliser chalked off by VAR against Portugal in the last 32, with his club team-mate Mateo Kovacic visibly distraught at full-time.
Rayan Ait-Nouri's Algeria were comfortably beaten by Switzerland in the last-32.
In the round of 16, Spain knocked out Portugal, spelling the end of Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes' tournament, while Omar Marmoush's Egypt were knocked out by Argentina.
OUT: Abdukodir Khusanov [Uzbekistan], Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders [Netherlands], Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic [Croatia], Rayan Ait-Nouri [Algeria], Antoine Semenyo [Ghana], Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes [Portugal], Omar Marmoush [Egypt]
Manchester United
Three United players endured difficult World Cups: Altay Bayindir of Turkey, Tyler Fletcher of Scotland and Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte.
All three will return to Manchester after failing to progress from their groups. To make matters worse for Ugarte, he was stretchered off in his side’s final group game with a serious injury.
Amad Diallo came off the bench and scored but could not prevent Cote d'Ivoire losing to Norway in the last 32.
Matheus Cunha is out following Brazil's loss to Norway, but Casemiro departed the club on a free transfer in the summer, so he does not feature here.
Portugal lost to Spain in a last-32 tie, meaning Bruno Fernandes' and Diogo Dalot's interest in the tournament is over.
OUT: Altay Bayindir [Turkey], Manuel Ugarte [Uruguay], Amad Diallo [Cote d'Ivoire], Tyler Fletcher [Scotland], Diego Leon [Paraguay], Matheus Cunha [Brazil], Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot [Portugal]
Newcastle United
Newcastle and England defender Tino Livramento was forced to withdraw from the England squad due to injury.
Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were the first players to depart following Germany's loss to Paraguay.
Anthony Elanga's World Cup campaign ended as Sweden lost to France, and Yoane Wissa was in the DR Congo side that was knocked out by England.
The future of Bruno Guimaraes will now be in focus at St James' Park following Brazil's exit to Norway.
OUT: Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade [Germany], Anthony Elanga [Sweden], Yoane Wissa [DR Congo], Bruno Guimaraes [Brazil]
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will welcome Tyler Bindon, Chris Wood and Angus Gunn back to the club after New Zealand and Scotland suffered elimination from the tournament in the group stage.
Ibrahim Sangare was also knocked out of the World Cup after Cote d'Ivoire lost to Norway in the last 32.
OUT: Tyler Bindon and Chris Wood [New Zealand], Angus Gunn [Scotland], Ibrahim Sangare [Cote d'Ivoire]
Sunderland
Sunderland players have lit up the World Cup this summer.
Wilson Isidor of Haiti will be heading home following the group stage, but he can hold his head up high after scoring a screamer for Haiti against Morocco.
Morocco put paid to Robin Roefs' World Cup, as the goalkeeper was part of the defeated Netherlands squad. Brian Brobbey and Lutsharel Geertruida were also on the way home after that game.
Nilson Angulo followed after Ecuador lost to Mexico, while Noah Sadiki went out with DR Congo, and Habib Diarra's Senegal were beaten by Belgium.
Out: Wilson Isidor [Haiti] Robin Roefs, Brian Brobbey and Lutsharel Geertruida [Netherlands], Nilson Angulo [Ecuador], Arthur Masuaku [DR Congo], Noah Sadiki [DR Congo], Habib Diarra [Senegal], Omar Alderete [Paraguay]
Tottenham Hotspur
Rodrigo Bentancur was also a part of Uruguay’s disastrous tournament, while Antonin Kinsky also headed home early after Czechia were dumped out in the group stage.
Spurs saw two players depart following the last-32 game between Netherlands and Morocco, as Dutch pair Jan Paul van Hecke - a summer signing from Brighton - and Micky van de Ven departed.
Lucas Bergvall made his first start of the tournament as Sweden lost to France in the last 32, while Pape Matar Sarr's Senegal lost to Belgium.
Austria were picked apart by Spain in the last 32, which brought an end to Kevin Danso's World Cup, while Luka Vuskovic's Croatia were beaten by Portugal.
Out: Andy Robertson [Scotland], Rodrigo Bentancur [Uruguay], Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven [Netherlands], Lucas Bergvall [Sweden], Pape Matar Sarr [Senegal], Antonin Kinsky [Czechia], Kevin Danso [Austria], Luka Vuskovic [Croatia]
What early World Cup exits could mean for Premier League clubs?
There has been a lot of talk about how the expanded World Cup could impact the quality of the tournament.
However, allowing third-place teams to progress will also clearly affect the Premier League next term.
With more players spending longer in North America, greater consideration about breaks for them before pre-season training starts will need to be taken into consideration.
Needless to say, there could be a lot of tired legs out there when the Premier League returns on August 22.
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