2026 World Cup preview: Will Barcelona's players shine?

After four years of waiting, the FIFA World Cup is back in its most ambitious version yet. The tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will bring together 48 nations for the first time in history. For Barcelona, ​​this is another opportunity for their stars to shine on the biggest stage. As many as 16 Blaugrana players were called up to represent their countries, which is only one less than the record set during the 2022 edition. The Spaniards lead with eight players including Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal. La Roja, the current European champions, base their identity on players associated with Barcelona, ​​which could have a major impact on their performance during the tournament. Lionel Messi, the Blaugrana legend, despite winning the world champion title in 2022, is still hungry for success and intends to end his national team career at a high level. Argentina, being one of the favorites, is counting on another triumph with Messi in the squad.  Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti also has its own ambitions, and one of the key players will be Raphinha, who after two excellent seasons in Barcelona is ready to lead the team to success. France, with Jules Kounde in their squad, and the Netherlands with Frenkie de Jong, are the next teams that have Blaugrana players in their arsenal. Each of these teams is counting on success, and their Barcelona players will play key roles in their pursuit of victory. The 2026 World Cup promises to be extremely exciting, and Barcelona's players have a chance to further strengthen their position in world football. Will they be able to win gold? Time will tell, but one thing is certain - they will be one of the most important clubs represented at the tournament.