​As the 2026 World Cup advances into its quarter-final phase, the field of Italian representatives remains trimmed to a select group following Tuesday night’s final round of 16 fixtures. With Italy absent from the North American tournament, neutral fans following Serie A may find themselves backing Belgium or Norway in the pursuit of glory, as both nations boast the most Italian-linked players still in contention, each with five participants in their squads.
France and Switzerland also feature strong Serie A and Serie B connections, each country represented by four players in their ensembles. The list of nations with Italian-connected players includes Argentina, which features two Serie A stars—Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz—while Morocco has a single Italian connection through Roma’s Neil El-Aynaoui. Spain and England currently have no players with ties to Serie A in their World Cup rosters.
Now is a good moment to ask: which team will you be rooting for as we head into the final eight of the 2026 World Cup? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
France’s Italian-linked stars are Manu Kone (Roma), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), and Mike Maignan (Milan). In a Milan- and Roma-flavored lineup, this quartet highlights the depth of Serie A influence at the French national team level.
Morocco’s sole Italian-connected presence is Neil El-Aynaoui of Roma, underscoring a more limited but notable attachment to Italian football.
Spain does not have any players with direct Serie A ties in this tournament, while England likewise has no Italian-linked representatives on the squad.
Belgium’s contingent features a robust Italian connection: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Koni De Winter (Milan), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), and Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan). This grouping shows how deeply Serie A talent is spread across the Belgian setup.
Norway also shows substantial Italian links: Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Leo Ostigard (Genoa), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), and Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo) represent the Scandinavian nation in the late stages of the competition.
England and Spain currently have no players with direct Serie A ties in their squads, reflecting a moment where the World Cup’s Italian-connected cohort is concentrated among a few nations, with France, Belgium, Norway, and Morocco forming the core of Serie A-linked participation.
In Argentina, two players with Italian connections star for the teams: Nico Paz (Como) and Lautaro Martinez (Inter), continuing the tradition of Italian clubs contributing to South American World Cup campaigns. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s presence is defined by Manuel Akanji (Inter), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Milan), and Michel Aebischer (Pisa), illustrating another layer of Italian club involvement in the Swiss contingent.
As fans prepare for the quarter-finals, the question remains: which of the remaining teams with Italian ties will carry the flag of Serie A, and which players will lift the trophy for a nation connected to Italian football in this World Cup? Share your pick and reasons in the comments to join the discussion as the tournament reaches its decisive stage.