At least two Aston Villa players confirmed their participation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with several more getting involved across preliminary and confirmed squads.
- France has named Lucas Digne in its 26-man squad for the tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico.
- Victor Lindelöf will captain Sweden at the World Cup, their fourteenth appearance in the competition
- Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, and Morgan Rogers have all been named in their respective confirmed squads
- Argentina’s preliminary 55-man selection includes Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia.
Lucas Digne, France’s World Cup left-back
Didier Deschamps has named Lucas Digne in his 26-man France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Villa left-back is one of nine defenders he selected as Les Bleus aim to go one step further than their consecutive final appearances after they lost on penalties to Argentina in Qatar in 2022.
The 32-year-old has been a consistent presence in the French setup throughout his career and brings significant international experience to a squad targeting redemption on the world stage.
France compete in Group I, opening their campaign against Senegal on Tuesday 16 June before facing Iraq and Norway.
Digne’s inclusion reflects his consistent form throughout Villa’s historic Europa League campaign and his experience at left-back across two legs of the semi-final against Forest. He heads to North America in the form of his career at club level.
Victor Lindelöf. Sweden’s World Cup captain
Victor Lindelöf will lead Sweden at the World Cup as captain, the most significant international recognition of a remarkable personal season at Villa Park.
Graham Potter named the 30-year-old in his full 26-player squad earlier today, confirming Lindelöf as the most seasoned figure in the Scandinavian side with 75 caps.
Sweden are appearing at the World Cup for the fourteenth time: their best performance a runners-up finish in 1958 when they lost to Brazil in the final.
The standout individual quality in Potter’s squad is considerable with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak leading the attack. Lindelöf’s outstanding form this season, including his extraordinary midfield deployment against Forest in the second leg of the Europa League semi final, has clearly reinforced his status as Sweden’s most important defensive leader.
Onana, Tielemans, Konsa and Rogers: three more Villans confirmed
Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans have been named in Belgium’s official World Cup squad: the captain of the Red Devils heading to North America on the back of one of the finest individual seasons of his career.
No one ever doubted his inclusion given his performances across Villa’s Europa League campaign and his consistent Premier League output throughout the season.
England’s squad has selected Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers, a significant double recognition for two players who have been central to Villa’s remarkable season.
Konsa’s consistent defensive performances and Rogers’ nine Premier League goals and five assists have clearly convinced Thomas Tuchel that both deserve their place in the England setup heading into a tournament on home soil.
Martinez and Buendia in the Argentina’s preliminary 55
Argentina’s preliminary 55-man selection ahead of the World Cup includes Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia. The two compatriots, both outstanding contributors to Villa’s Europa League final journey, will need to trim the squad to the final 26-man team before the tournament begins..
Martinez’s World Cup pedigree is beyond question: the goalkeeper was the hero of Argentina’s 2022 triumph in Qatar, while Buendia’s inclusion in the extended squad reflects his outstanding recent form, including his brilliant assist for Watkins’ goal in the Forest second leg.
| Villa Player | Nation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas Digne | France | Confirmed — 26-man squad |
| Victor Lindelöf | Sweden | Confirmed — captain |
| Youri Tielemans | Belgium | Confirmed — 26-man squad |
| Amadou Onana | Belgium | Confirmed — 26-man squad |
| Ezri Konsa | England | Confirmed — 26-man squad |
| Morgan Rogers | England | Confirmed — 26-man squad |
| Emiliano Martinez | Argentina | Preliminary 55 |
| Emiliano Buendia | Argentina | Preliminary 55 |
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Seven Villa players involved in the World Cup across six different nationsm that is the clearest possible measure of the quality Emery has assembled at Villa Park. So, the World Cup comes after Istanbul and the involvement of so many key players will inevitably create squad management complexity heading into 2026-27.
However, it is also the greatest possible advertisement for what this club has become under Emery’s stewardship. Seven international footballers. One Europa League final. One extraordinary season.
