EFL stars at the World Cup: League Two player joins Wrexham defender in full list

The English Football League is continuing to prove its international pedigree with plenty of stars at the World Cup this summer.

The EFL has reason to hope their total representation will surpass the 30 players from across the Championship, League One and League Two who were in Qatar four years ago.

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During the 2025/26 season, even fourth division clubs have been forced to postpone fixtures due to international call-ups.

However, as things stand, only New Zealand’s Ben Waine will be representing a League Two club, having managed three goals in the fourth tier for relegated Port Vale this year.

His countryman Matthew Garbett has also been selected off the back of his League One performances and will be the first Peterborough United player to feature at the World Cup.

As expected, clubs from the Championship dominate the list, with nine teams having at least one player to cheer on this summer.

Every EFL player at the World Cup

Amir Hadziahmetovic – Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Hull City loanee was a surprising inclusion in Bosnia’s World Cup squad after undergoing surgery for a meniscus injury in April.

The 29-year-old registered three assists in 37 Championship appearances since joining on loan from Besiktas in September.

Bosnia announced the midfielder would miss the World Cup due to a knee injury sustained in the Tigers’ 1-1 draw against Birmingham City.

Hadziahmetovic has had to watch from the sidelines as Hull battled on to reach the Championship playoff final, but has still been included in head coach Sergej Barbarez’s 26-man squad.

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Ivor Pandur – Croatia

Hadziahmetovic’s Hull City teammate will definitely be on the plane to the World Cup after a standout individual season for the Tigers.

Pandur, who started all but one of Hull’s 46 Championship games, kept successive clean sheets in the playoff semi-final win over Millwall.

While he is yet to make his senior international debut, the 26-year-old will be on Croatia’s bench against England at the World Cup.

The goalkeeper, who joined Hull in January 2024 under Liam Rosenior, will serve as back-up to Dominik Livaković in Zlatko Dalic’s squad.

His manager at the MKM Stadium, Sergej Jakirovic, earned five caps for Bosnia as a player but holds dual nationality with Pandur’s Croatia.

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Curacao (3 players)

Former Manchester United academy product Tahith Chong has been included in Dick Advocaat’s squad for his country’s World Cup debut.

The 26-year-old registered one assist in 21 Championship appearances at Sheffield United following his switch from Luton last summer.

Chong is joined in the squad by Ar’Jany Martha, who will become the first player for Rotherham United to feature at a World Cup.

The Dutch-born defender played 41 times for the Millers last season but was unable to stop the club from being relegated to League Two.

Middlesbrough’s Sontje Hansen, who was the top goalscorer of the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, rounds out the Championship trio.

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Edo Kayembe – DR Congo

The Watford midfielder has been a regular in his country’s setup since 2021 and has amassed 40 international caps.

The 27-year-old featured for Congo in the most recent African Cup of Nations, as well as their play-off victory over Jamaica in March.

His World Cup inclusion comes fresh after inking a 12-month extension on his contract with the Hornets.

Kayembe scored four goals and laid on one assist in 37 Championship appearances, having also made 28 starts for the club.

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New Zealand (6 players)

The Kiwis have even included a non-league player from England in their World Cup squad in the form of Braintree Town’s Tommy Smith.

The 36-year-old defender will join Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood in becoming the first New Zealanders to feature at two men’s World Cups, following their appearances at the 2010 tournament.

Smith, whose Braintree side were relegated from the National League this season, told talkSPORT that feat has been a ‘long time coming’.

He joins a six-strong EFL contingent, including Peterborough’s Garbett and Port Vale striker Waine.

Wrexham left wing-back Liberato Cacace, who has not played for the Dragons since February due to injury, has made the cut.

Millwall goalkeeper Max Crocombe, Forest defender Tyler Bindon (who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United), and Swansea City midfielder Marko Stamenic were also named in New Zealand’s squad.

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South Korea (3 players)

Tottenham legend and Los Angeles forward Son Heung-min headlines a World Cup squad featuring a Championship triple threat.

Midfield trio Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Um Ji-sung (Swansea), and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) were named in Hong Myung-bo’s squad.

Sweden (2 players)

Graham Potter is more than aware of the level in the Championship following his successful season-long stint as Swansea boss in 2018.

The ex-Brighton and Chelsea gaffer has now returned to the second-tier pool to bulk out his Sweden squad with two EFL goalkeepers.

Derby County’s Jacob Widell Zetterstrom played 32 times for the Rams as the club narrowly missed out on the playoffs in eighth.

His fellow shot-stopper, Viktor Johansson, made his return from shoulder surgery to feature in Stoke City’s final game of the season.

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Anis Ben Slimane – Tunisia

The Norwich City star is set to make his second appearance at a World Cup finals after playing for his country in Qatar four years ago.

The 25-year-old played twice in Tunisia’s group-stage exit, which included a 1-0 win over France and a goalless draw with Denmark.

Having fallen out of favour in the first half of Norwich’s season, Slimane enjoyed a revival under Philippe Clement from January.

He earned a recall to Tunisia’s national team after registering 11 goal contributions in 26 appearances across all competitions.

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More to follow…

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