Which Barcelona players are going to the World Cup, and who are you rooting for?

On May 30, 2026

The domestic season is officially wrapped up, La Liga silverware is safely secured, and the football world is completely locked in on the FIFA World Cup. But FC Barcelona supporters are unlikely to stop caring when the world’s biggest tournament starts.

And sure, football fans naturally pledge allegiance to their home countries, but plenty of people find themselves without a team in the tournament or just looking for a secondary country to follow. Fortunately, the club has sent a star-studded contingent to the tournament, offering plenty of storylines to track and players to root for over the coming weeks.

For the vast majority of the fanbase, Spain serves as the default choice. And sure, that’s partly because Barcelona play in Spain, but more importantly, the core of the Spanish national team is made up of players who play home games at Camp Nou.

From the incredible talent of Lamine Yamal and Pedri to the relentless energy of Gavi and the defensive maturity of Pau Cubarsí, the heartbeat of this team was built in Catalonia. Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Eric García, and Joan García round up the Barcelona contingent. Not to mention – this particular Spanish roster features no Real Madrid players.

Looking past the obvious choice, the historical ties to the Netherlands make the Oranje an incredibly popular alternative. There’s a thread connecting former Netherlands and Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff to modern Barcelona football. That philosophical tie means that Dutch success always feels a bit like a victory for the club’s own footballing identity. Watching Frenkie de Jong controlling the midfield just feels right.

For more than a decade, backing Argentina was an unwritten rule for Barcelona fans eager to see Lionel Messi achieve international immortality. Now that he has already secured his crown, the fanbase is somewhat divided. Some still want to see the club’s greatest icon lift the trophy once more, perhaps even alongside heavily rumored transfer targets like Julián Álvarez. Yet others feel that the fairytale narrative reached its perfect conclusion last time around. They may wish to see another Barcelona player get a turn.

The English national team will also draw attention from Catalonia this summer, specifically due to the club’s recent transfer activity. All eyes will be on Anthony Gordon, the explosive new signing whose performances will be a preview of what he will bring next season.

There is also Marcus Rashford, who spent the year performing admirably on loan. Alongside Portugal’s João Cancelo, Rashford enters the tournament as a Barcelona player. Neither may finish the summer that way, according to rumors.

Portugal is an interesting case. It’s very close to Barcelona geographically, and the team certainly has had connections to the country over the years. Some who care about the Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry may want Portugal to fail, but that’s not everybody.

As for the rest of the world, it’s mostly about the individuals.

When watching France, Uruguay, Brazil, or Egypt, it’s less about the country playing and more about the health and form of the players involved. Fans will be watching Jules Koundé and Ronald Araujo with bated breath, praying for dominant defensive performances but, above all, an injury-free tournament. Raphinha will look to bring his signature work ethic to a dazzling Brazilian attack, while young Hamza Abdelkarim has a massive opportunity to showcase his talent with Egypt.

No matter what team or teams you are excited to see, fans have plenty to look forward to at the world’s most important sports competition.

Who are your rooting for at World Cup 2026?

Crédito: Link de origem