Three Leeds United-linked World Cup stories to look out for including Marcelo Bielsa, Raphinha & England rival | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup begins tonight across the USA, Canada and Mexico, and there is plenty for Leeds United fans to follow.

yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk notes that four current Leeds players are involved, Gabriel Gudmundsson with Sweden, Ao Tanaka with Japan, Brenden Aaronson with the USA and Noah Okafor with Switzerland. Further Elland Road links abound.

Marcelo Bielsa took charge of Uruguay in May 2023 and began with consecutive wins over Argentina and Brazil, a first since 1959. A fallout with Luis Suarez and a 5-1 loss to the USA last November brought pressure, but after a press conference he said he would see out the World Cup. This is his third World Cup, with Uruguay in Group H with Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

Raphinha’s Brazil breakthrough owed to Leeds and Bielsa, debuting in 2021 aged 24 after his Elland Road form. Now at Barcelona for £55 million, he has recovered from a hamstring injury and links up with Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. It is his second World Cup after Qatar 2022, and he will hope to open his account, with Brazil favourites to progress from Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.

Former Leeds head coach Thomas Christiansen has guided Panama to their second World Cup since July 2020. They have risen from 78th to 33rd in the FIFA rankings, with Norwich City defender Jose Cordoba their only UK-based player. After three defeats in Russia 2018, they will chase a first point in Group L against Croatia, Ghana and England.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk