Villarreal to have eight at World Cup 2026 as tally hits 30 | OneFootball

Villarreal will send eight players to the 2026 World Cup, lifting the club’s all-time contingent to 30.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Alex Freeman, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwaseyi, Renato Veiga, Logan Costa, Pape Gueye, Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pépé have been selected.

They follow club greats Marcos Senna, Juan Román Riquelme, Joan Capdevila, Giuseppe Rossi and Juan Pablo Sorín at previous finals.

Buchanan and Oluwaseyi are first up, as co-hosts Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B. They open in Toronto on Friday 12 June at 21:00.

The United States open against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Saturday 13 June at 02:00. They finish against Türkiye on Friday 26 June at 04:00, also in Los Angeles.

Veiga is Villarreal’s only European representative. Portugal are in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, opening on Wednesday 17 June at 19:00 in Houston.

Gueye’s Senegal begin Group I against France on Tuesday 16 June at 21:00 in New Jersey.

Pépé’s Ivory Coast start Group E against Ecuador in Philadelphia on Monday 15 June at 01:00.

Costa’s Cabo Verde debut comes against Spain in Atlanta on Monday 15 June at 18:00.

Partey’s Ghana kick off Group L against Panama in Toronto on Thursday 18 June at 01:00.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo