Marcelo Bielsa, Raphinha and Leeds links to watch at the World Cup | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup kicks off tonight, with plenty for Leeds United supporters to keep tabs on.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, four Leeds players are involved as the tournament spans the USA, Canada and Mexico: Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden share a group with Ao Tanaka’s Japan, Brenden Aaronson is with co-hosts the USA and Noah Okafor with Switzerland.

Marcelo Bielsa took charge of Uruguay in May 2023 and began brilliantly, beating Argentina and Brazil back-to-back. Results tailed off, ending in a 5-1 defeat to the USA last November and calls for his dismissal, after which he held a two hour press conference and said he would see out the World Cup.

This is his third World Cup after Japan 2002 with Argentina and South Africa 2010 with Chile, and Uruguay are in Group H with Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

Raphinha broke into Brazil in 2021 at 24 on the back of his Leeds form, then a £55 million move to Barcelona cemented his place. He overcame a hamstring issue earlier this year.

With Carlo Ancelotti now in charge, Brazil look formidable. This is his second World Cup after Qatar 2022 and he will aim to open his account, with Brazil favourites to progress from Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.

Thomas Christiansen, Leeds head coach in 2017-18, has led Panama to their second World Cup since taking charge in July 2020, and they are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and England after losing all three games at Russia 2018.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk