Following the conclusion of the quarterfinal round of the 2026 World Cup, with the semifinal lineup consisting of Argentina, France, Spain, and England, the specific statistics regarding the leagues and clubs still represented in the tournament are particularly interesting.

The first major finding concerns the leagues that still have a presence in the tournament. The Premier League clearly dominates, as 41 of the 104 players on the four semifinalist teams play in the English league, a figure that accounts for 39% of the total. La Liga follows with 29 players and a 28% share, confirming that Spanish soccer remains a formidable force at the national level as well.

Further behind is Ligue 1 with 13 players, or 12% of the total, while the Bundesliga and Serie A each have six players, accounting for 6%. The MLS, with two players, Argentina’s Primera Division, with two, the Saudi Pro League, with two, as well as the Super Lig, Primeira Liga, and Brasileirao, with one representative each, also have a presence, albeit a smaller one.

At the club level, Barcelona has the largest representation among the four finalists, with 10 players remaining in the tournament. This achievement places them at the top of the list and highlights the “Blaugrana’s” significant impact on this year’s World Cup.

In second place is Atlético Madrid with nine players, followed by Arsenal with eight. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City each have six representatives, while Chelsea and Aston Villa each have five players still active in the tournament. Crystal Palace rounds out the list of the most “active” clubs in the semifinals with four players.

If we look beyond mere representation to the total playing time of each club’s players throughout the tournament, the picture changes slightly, but remains equally impressive. Bayern Munich tops the list with 5,505 minutes of playing time from 17 players, demonstrating just how pivotal a role its international players played in the World Cup. Manchester City follows in second place with 5,116 minutes and 19 players, while Arsenal is third with 4,287 minutes from 15 players.

Fourth in the rankings is Paris Saint-Germain with 4,170 minutes, while Real Madrid follows with 3,912 minutes from 10 players. Barcelona, despite leading in playing time in the semifinals, ranks sixth on the overall list with 3,522 minutes, trailing even Liverpool, which has 3,488.

Beyond that, Aston Villa has recorded 2,758 minutes, Crystal Palace 2,689, PSV Eindhoven 2,575, and Manchester United 2,539. Also above the 2,400-minute mark are Al Ahli and Al Hilal, with 2,441 and 2,425 respectively, followed by Dortmund, Fulham, Lille, Sunderland, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray, and Villarreal.

*photo source: AP