​Arsenal’s imprint on the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains as potent as ever after Spain and Belgium clinched the last two quarter-final spots, boosting the Gunners’ representation in the knockout stage to an impressive ten players. At the start of the Round of 16, Arsenal still had 12 first-team stars pursuing global glory, and after the latest round of eliminations, only two have fallen by the wayside: Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli, who exited the tournament following Brazil’s unexpected defeat to Norway. Earlier, Piero Hincapié’s Ecuador, Viktor Gyökeres’ Sweden, and Kai Havertz’s Germany had already been unseated before the Round of 16.
Spain carved their way into the quarter-finals in a dramatic fashion, beating Portugal 1-0 thanks to a late intervention from the bench. Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino came on and netted the decisive goal as extra time loomed, preserving Spain’s progress and ending Portugal’s run. Spain’s defensive discipline shone once again, with David Raya and Martin Zubimendi also advancing as they continued to keep their net untouched in the tournament.
Belgium joined the fray with a commanding 4-1 victory over the United States, in which Leandro Trossard played a pivotal role, creating opportunities and delivering an assist as Belgium eliminated the final host nation from contention. England had already ousted co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16, meaning all three host nations had departed the competition by this stage.
As the Round of 16 unfolded, Arsenal entered with 12 players still active in the tournament. Since then, only Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli have fallen away, leaving Mikel Arteta with ten Gunners still pursuing the World Cup dream. The quarter-finals will see Arsenal teammates collide in two of the four ties, underscoring the club’s continuing influence on the tournament’s late stages. Spain’s Raya, Merino, and Zubimendi face Belgium’s Leandro Trossard, while Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard leads Norway against England’s quartet of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.
With ten Gunners still involved and at least one Arsenal player poised to reach the semi-finals from each of those two matchups, Arsenal’s footprint on the World Cup’s closing rounds remains as strong as ever. The featured ties include France vs. Morocco (with William Saliba featuring for Arsenal), Spain vs. Belgium (Raya, Merino, and Zubimendi for Spain against Trossard’s Belgium), and Norway vs. England (Ødegaard for Norway against Rice, Saka, Eze, and Madueke for England).
What does Arsenal having ten players still in the World Cup signal about the squad’s quality under Mikel Arteta? It could be read as a testament to the club’s growing depth and international influence, reflecting improved squad balance, tactical versatility, and the ability to nurture players who can compete at the highest level. On the other hand, it may raise concerns about fatigue and risk of injury among key contributors as the tournament progresses. Still, the immediate takeaway is clear: Arsenal’s presence in the latter stages of the World Cup underscores the impact of their program on a global stage and highlights the breadth of talent they have cultivated across multiple leagues and nations.