World Cup 2022: Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester City dominate squads in Qatar
In total, 163 players representing English-based teams will travel to Qatar; tally equates to 20 per cent of all World Cup squads; German leagues have next biggest cohort with 86 players; Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester City have highest number of call-ups
Adam Smith
Data and Analysis @AdamDatasmith
A tournament-topping 163 English-based players will be representing their nations at the World Cup in Qatar – but which domestic teams dominate and which nations have the most experience?
The English tally represents one-fifth of World Cup squads and is 77 more than any other country, with 86 players from Spanish leagues booking tickets to Qatar with their respective international teams.
The remainder of Europe’s top five leagues complete the upper rungs – Germany (81), Italy (70) and France (58), with the USA (35) ranked sixth – ahead of national leagues in Saudi Arabia (34) and host nation Qatar (31).
- World Cup team guides
- World Cup 2022 schedule, teams and draw
Breaking that figure down into British representation, 134 current Premier League players have joined up with their national teams, followed by the Championship (25), Scottish Premiership (13), English League One and English League Two (both two).
Club domination
In terms of domestic clubs, Bayern Munich clocked a tournament-topping 17 call-ups – pipping rival powerhouses Manchester City and Barcelona (both 16).
Trending
- Man Utd players disappointed with Ronaldo behaviour | Club taking legal advice
- World Cup 2022 schedule, teams and draw
- View from Portugal: Timing of Ronaldo interview not innocent
- Transfer Centre LIVE! MLS? Sporting? Where next for Ronaldo?
- Every World Cup squad named
- Button ‘amazed’ by Red Bull feud | ‘We need the reasons’
- Brundle reviews Russell’s first win, Max vs Lewis & Red Bull controversy
- Coady on England critics, Wolves exit and World Cup dreams
- Fury: I need Joshua fight before I retire
- Ferrari: Binotto sacking reports ‘totally without foundation’
- Video
- Latest News
Fifteen of Qatar’s 26-man squad play for Qatari club Al-Sadd, while Manchester United (14) and Real Madrid (13) also have swathes of players among the travelling parties.
You can search and filter domestic nations and club representation at Qatar by using the interactive table below…
Also See:
- 2022 World Cup: Teams, schedule, venues
- World Cup fixtures
- World Cup tables
- Pick your England World Cup XI
- How to win the World Cup: Inside the training camp
- Every World Cup squad named
International experience
The host nation are runaway leaders for international experience, having amassed 1,472 caps to date – ahead of Belgium (1,340), Mexico (1,285) and Uruguay (1,183).
At the other end of the scale, Ghana have collectively earned only 438 run-outs to date, with Morocco (520), Australia (550) and Cameroon (612) also notably inexperienced.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated the headlines going into the tournament after revealing he has “no respect” for his club manager Erik ten Hag in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan – but the 37-year-old will be the most experienced player in Qatar with 191 caps for his country.
Andres Guardado (Mexico), Hassan Al-Haydos (Qatar), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Diego Godin (Uruguay) also provide seasoned know-how among their respective camps.
- Pick your England starting XI for World Cup 2022
- England squad in numbers: Experienced, offensive and record-breaking?
Veterans and rookies
Caps and years do not always go hand in hand. Indeed, Iran have the eldest average age among all teams going into the tournament at 29 years and 157 days, ahead of Mexico, Tunisia, and tournament favourites Argentina and Brazil.
Image:England midfielder Jude Bellingham is the ninth-youngest player among World Cup squads
Conversely, Ghana are the youngest with an average age of just 25 years and 110 days – with the USA, Ecuador, Spain and Cameroon also selecting youthful rosters.
Germany have selected the youngest squad member in 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, followed by five other players who share his age: Garang Kuol (Australia), Gavi (Spain), Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica), Bilal El Khannous (Morocco) and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Ghana).
