Every former Orlando City star headed to this year's FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Three-and-a-half years after Argentina made history in Qatar, the FIFA World Cup is back and bigger than ever.

With the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa just hours away a record-breaking forty-eight squads have all now been finalised, and there are plenty of players for Orlando City fans to keep an eye on as we wait for our team to return to action late next month.

Three of our own are set to grace the biggest stage of them all after Braian Ojeda was included in Paraguay's final squad, Marco Pašalić got the nod for Croatia, and Maxime Crépeau earned Jesse Marsch's blessing as Canada's starting goalkeeper, but a further four players with historic ties to our club will also be of particular interest over the coming weeks.

Alex Freeman

Come on, this guy needs no introduction.

Earning himself a dream move to La Liga giants Villarreal after a stunning breakthrough season in Orlando, Alex Freeman is surely just the first of many homegrown superstars to result from serious investment into our academy in recent years.

Taking to senior international football like a duck to water over the past twelve months, the 21-year-old was the easiest of picks for Mauricio Pochettino this summer. However, it remains to be seen whether he or Sergiño Dest will initially get the nod at right-back when the United States begin their tournament against Ojeda's Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium tomorrow night.

Further matches against Australia at Seattle Stadium and Turkey back at Los Angeles Stadium await Pochettino's men in what is a very competitive group, but Freeman and co. will no doubt be confident of extending their tournament into the knockouts.

Cyle Larin

The ultimate nomad since leaving Orlando in disgrace eight years ago, Cyle Larin's move to Europe probably hasn't panned out in the way he would've hoped. Still, briefly becoming Canada's all-time top goalscorer and fulfilling every player's dream by appearing at the last World Cup in Qatar is more than most could ever wish for.

But the 31-year-old won't be content with that. Bagging nine goals on loan at Southampton in the Sky Bet Championship during the second half of last season, he now has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a hero for his country in a home World Cup.

Canada will certainly be banking on Larin's red-hot form in front of goal in what is another tough group to call. Marsch's men open their tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium tomorrow afternoon before facing Qatar at BC Place Vancouver six days later, with a tough-looking fixture against Switzerland at the same venue awaiting them in their final match of the group stage.

Like the United States, however, Canada will be confident of home advantage helping see them through to the knockouts.

Richie Laryea

Following in Larin's footsteps by also being drafted out of college to Orlando a decade ago, Richie Laryea totalled 21 senior appearances for our club before departing for Toronto FC three seasons later.

His time with us may not have been the most memorable, but the 31-year-old has definitely gone on to achieve bigger and better things since then. Playing alongside his good friend and former Orlando teammate in Qatar as Canada finally broke their long World Cup curse, he and his colleagues now have the chance to go one better in front of their own supporters and produce a tournament run that will be remembered for generations to come.

Recently deputising at left-back for the injured Alphonso Davies in warm-up scrimmages against Uzbekistan and Ireland, Laryea will be ready to step in again if the 25-year-old fails to recover from his hamstring injury in time for Canada's opening game.

Léo Pereira

If you'd have told me after we'd just shipped six goals away to Philadelphia Union eight-and-a-half years ago that one of our defenders would be suiting up for Brazil at a World Cup later in his career, I think I'd have been forgiven for calling you crazy.

Léo Pereira, though, is living proof that miracles really do happen. Since his rather underwhelming year-long stint in Orlando came to an end the 30-year-old has made quite the name for himself back in his homeland, tallying a remarkable 304 appearances for Brasileirão giants Flamengo.

Only being awarded his senior international debut three months ago, Pereira is now leaving the dream. A group consisting of Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland represents a pretty favourable draw for Carlo Ancelotti's men, but tougher tests will inevitably await them if they are to challenge for a record-extending sixth World Cup title after so many years of disappointment.