Excitement is mounting at Aston Villa as a remarkable contingent of first-team players prepares to feature in the 2026 World Cup in North America. The club is set to have significant representation on the global stage, with fourteen stars already confirming their participation after successful qualification campaigns with their respective nations.
Villa's International Elite Securing Their Spots
John McGinn has cemented his legendary status with Scotland, playing a pivotal role in their historic 4-2 victory against Denmark that ended a 28-year World Cup qualification drought. The Villa skipper will now compete for international football's most coveted prize for the first time in his career.
World champions Argentina, who topped their South American qualification group with 38 points, will feature Emiliano Martinez as their expected starting goalkeeper. Teammate Emiliano Buendía, despite not featuring for Argentina in over three years, will hope to stake a late claim for a place after returning from an ACL injury.
England's perfect qualifying campaign, winning every match without conceding, means Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins are all in line for World Cup selection, though Konsa recently picked up a knock during the penultimate qualifier.
The Complete Villa World Cup Roster
The Aston Villa squad boasts an impressive international presence across multiple continents. The confirmed participants include:
- Emi Martinez - Argentina
- Ezri Konsa - England
- Morgan Rogers - England
- Ollie Watkins - England
- Lucas Digne - France
- Ian Maatsen - Netherlands
- Pau Torres - Spain
- John McGinn - Scotland
- Youri Tielemans - Belgium
- Amadou Onana - Belgium
- Boubacar Kamara - France
- Donyell Malen - Netherlands
- Evann Guessand - Ivory Coast
Villa Stars Facing Play-Off Anxiety
While most of Villa's internationals can celebrate direct qualification, two faces at the club must endure the nerve-wracking play-off process to secure their World Cup dreams.
Matty Cash and his Polish side finished second in their qualifying group behind the Netherlands, recording five wins, two draws, and one defeat from eight matches. They must now navigate the play-offs to continue their record of appearing in the last two World Cup tournaments.
Similarly, Victor Lindelof's Sweden finished outside the automatic play-off places but have been handed a potential lifeline through the Nations League route. The coming months will prove crucial for these Villa defenders hoping to book their tickets to North America.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off in less than eight months, promising to showcase Aston Villa's growing influence on the international stage across multiple competing nations.
