The quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Cup is complete, and a total of six Serie A players will be progressing through to the tournament’s semi-finals, which will kick off with France vs. Spain on Tuesday evening.
France eliminated Morocco 2-0 in their quarter-final on Tuesday, Spain overcame Belgium 2-1, England defeated Norway 2-1 in extra-time on Saturday night and Argentina needed the full 120 minutes again to get past Switzerland in the early hours of Sunday morning, eventually finishing at 3-1.
Now, only six Serie A players are left heading into the World Cup semi-finals. Four of them represent France and two represent Argentina.
The France squad boasts Milan pair Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, along with Roma midfielder Manu Kone and Inter forward Marcus Thuram. Argentina have Thuram’s regular strike partner Lautaro Martinez as well as Como superstar Nico Paz in their ranks.
A total of 15 Serie A players were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, including Norway’s quintet of Italian-based players: Morten Thorsby, Leo Ostigard, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Torbjorn Heggem and Kristian Thorstvedt.
Belgium also had five Serie A players in their ranks, namely Napoli pair Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, Milan duo Koni De Winter and Alexis Saelemaekers and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere.
Roma’s Neil El-Aynaoui (Morocco) and Switzerland quartet Manuel Akani (Inter), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Milan) and Michel Aebischer (Pisa) were the other Italian-based players to be eliminated during the World Cup quarter-finals.
Which Serie A players are left standing at the 2026 World Cup?
France: Manu Kone (Roma), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Mike Maignan (Milan).
Spain: None.
England: None.
Argentina: Nico Paz (Como), Lautaro Martinez (Inter).
