18 Manchester City stars confirmed for FIFA World Cup Round of 32 | OneFootball

Eighteen Manchester City stars have progressed to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 across 11 nations as the tournament in North America enters its knockout phase.

The scale of City’s representation at the FIFA World Cup underlines the club’s continued standing as one of European football’s pre-eminent producers of international talent, with players across every area of the pitch featuring prominently for their respective nations throughout the group stage.

From established internationals to emerging talents and incoming signing Elliot Anderson, the breadth of City’s World Cup contingent stretches across Europe and beyond, with the knockout rounds now set to provide the game’s biggest stage for the club’s most prominent names.

England, Portugal, Spain & the full City breakdown

England carry the largest City contingent into the last 32 – with James Trafford, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly all having featured for Thomas Tuchel’s side in the group-stage. England will face DR Congo in the Round of 32.

Portugal boast three City representatives in Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, who will come up against club teammates Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic in what is a remarkable all-City subplot, as Portugal and Croatia – both featuring multiple players from the Etihad Stadium – are drawn against one another in the last 32.

Rodri and Spain will face Austria in their last-32 fixture, with the City midfielder having been one of the most influential players in the tournament so far, continuing the form that earned him the Ballon d’Or in 2024.

Jeremy Doku and Belgium advance to face Senegal, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Algeria – one of the group stage’s more surprising progressors – will take on Switzerland in the first knockout round.

Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Ake advance for Netherlands and will face off against Morocco as the pair search for an improved role under Ronald Koeman in the latter stages of the tournament.

Erling Haaland and Norway have drawn huge plaudits for their impressive group-stage performances and their second place finish in Group I – behind France – will see them go toe to toe with Ivory Coast in the Round of 32.

Rayan Cherki enjoyed a stellar debut season at the Etihad Stadium and the 22-year-old will go to battle against Sweden for France in the Round of 32.

Omar Marmoush and Egypt finished second to Belgium in Group G on goal difference and will look to see off Australia in the Round of 32.

Antoine Semenyo and Ghana complete the City contingent, with the versatile attacker having played his part in the Black Stars‘ progression from the group stage as they prepare to face Colombia in the last 32.

What does City’s World Cup presence tell us about the summer ahead?

The sheer volume of City players still active at the tournament has a direct bearing on the club’s pre-season preparations, with director of football Hugo Viana and incoming manager Enzo Maresca likely to be without a significant portion of their senior squad until at least the latter stages of July, depending on how deep each nation progresses.

The Portugal versus Croatia fixture carries an additional layer of intrigue beyond the international dimension, pitting City’s established defensive and midfield core against one another at the biggest tournament in the world – a collision that will be watched closely by those at the Etihad Stadium.

The depth of City’s representation in the Round of 32 serves as a timely reminder of the calibre of the squad that Maresca is set to inherit – even as the rebuild that Viana is overseeing gathers pace around them.