As the international break ends, players will be returning to their clubs to prepare for the season’s climax. Stars of the EFL have been participating in some pivotal matches which decide who qualifies for the 2026 World Cup, and some players have been superb and shone on the international setting.
This guide will recap the fortunes of those players, whilst also looking at who may come into form in time for the busy business end of the campaign.
The Home Nations
The home nations always have squads packed with players from around the EFL.
James Trafford from Burnley was called up for the England squad following his record-breaking run of clean sheets, although he didn’t play as the Three Lions defeated Albania 2-0 and won 3-0 against Latvia to make a perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Wales beat Kazakhstan 3-1 and scored a vital 96th minute equalising goal in a 1-1 against North Macedonia in their opening World Cup qualifiers. Their squad contained a whole host of EFL players, including Dan James who scored against Kazakhstan, his Leeds United teammate Joe Rodon, Swansea City’s Liam Cullen and Burnley’s Connor Roberts.
Scotland, with a squad featuring Norwich City’s Kenny McClean, and Bristol City striker Tommy Conway, were relegated from Nations League A after they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate by Greece following a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Hampden Park. The Republic of Ireland will join them in League B, as they defeated Bulgaria 4-2 on aggregate. Middlesborough’s Finn Azaz scored brilliantly in the first leg and assisted in the second, whilst Burnley’s Josh Cullen picked up an assist and was crucial to the success as he started both matches.
The Northern Ireland squad is packed with EFL players, 18 to be precise, including Leyton Orient duo Jamie Donley and Ethan Galbraith. West Brom’s Isaac Price scored their goal in a 1-1 draw in a friendly with Switzerland, and he scored again against Sweden to start their World Cup Qualifying campaign. Unfortunately for him, that goal was part of a 5-1 defeat to a Sweden team that had Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson starting in goal, with Coventry City’s Oliver Dobin as his backup.
Rest of Europe
Nations League playoffs dominated the international window, as many European sides competed to secure their spot in the highest division possible for the next series. Beyond those games, European World Cup qualifying began, and many EFL players dazzled as they sought to send their team to North America in 2026.
Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik was in the Slovenia side that progressed to Nations League B by beating Slovakia, and they will be in the same tier as Georgia, as Watford winger Giorgi Chakvetadze was instrumental as they maintained their status with a thumping 9-1 aggregate win over Armenia.
However, not every EFL player had successful time in the nations league, as Willum Thor Willumson of Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle’s Victor Palsson and Preston North End’s Stefán Teitur Thórdarson were all part of the Iceland squad that were thrashed 5-2 on aggregate to Kosovo, meaning they were relegated to Nations League C.
Norway made a stellar start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, as a goal and an assist from Luton Town’s Thelo Aasgaard saw them thrash Moldova 5-0, before they followed it up by beating Israel 4-2 to boost their hopes of securing qualification.
Another team to sparkle and win their opening two qualifiers was Bosnia and Herzegovina. They beat Romania 1-0 and enjoyed a 2-1 victory against Cyprus, as Plymouth defender Nikola Katic was called on from the bench late on to secure a crucial win during the nervy moments in the latter fixture.
Grimsby Town’s Geza Turi was on the bench for his first call up with the Faroe Islands as they lost 2-1 against Czechia and 1-0 to a Montengro team that contained Preston North End striker Milutan Osmajic, whilst James Carragher of Wigan Athletic and Reading’s Basil Tuma were part of the Malta side that lost both of their opening World Cup qualifiers, 1-0 against Finland and 2-0 at home to Poland.
Asia
Asian World Cup Qualifying is firmly underway, and some teams have already secured their place at the World Cup in 2026.
The first team from any confederation to do so was Japan. They have Leeds United’s midfield maestro Ao Tanaka in their squad, and he played a pivotal part from the bench as The Samurai Blue beat Bahrain 2-0 to secure their spot in the tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada.
South Korea, who have a squad that is packed with EFL superstars including Stoke City’s Bae Junho, QPR’s Min Hyeok-Yang and Swansea City’s Ji-sung Eom, drew 1-1 with both Oman and Jordan in their World Cup qualifying. The Oman game was marred by Birmingham midfielder Paik Seung-ho having to be substituted due to injury, and although South Korea do still lead their group, they will have to wait until the next international break to secure their place at the World Cup.
Australia, who called up Portsmouth’s Kusini Yengi and Middlesborough goalkeeper Tom Glover, thrashed an Indonesia side containing Oxford United’s Marselino Ferdinan and Ole Romenij as well as Swansea’s Nathan Tjoe-A-On 5-1. The Socceroos are on the verge of qualification after a 2-0 victory over China leaves them in second, 3 points clear of Saudi Arabia in 3rd with 2 games to go in the race to progress from the group.
Oceania
The sole World Cup place for a team from Oceania was decided during this international break, and it was determined via a tournament, with two semifinals and a final to determine the winner.
Ben Waine of Mansfield Town missed a penalty in New Zealand’s World Cup Qualifying semifinal. Fortunately for him, the penalty was obsolete as they won that game 7-0 against Fiji, including a goal from Reading defender Tyler Bindon, before beating New Caledonia 3-0 to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup.
The Americas
There was a clash between EFL rivals in North America, as the CONCACAF Nations League finals matches took place.
No EFL players were in the final of the competition between Mexico and Panama, but Crewe Alexandra defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, who is on loan from Bristol City, was part of the Canada squad that secured third place in the by defeating the USA, who had Norwich City’s Josh Sargent and Leeds’ Brandan Aaronson, 2-1.
All of these players will be disappointed with this window however, as both Canada and the USA expected to be competing in this tournament but fell short in the semi-finals. As hosts of the 2026 World Cup, both sides will be looking at ways to improve so they can sparkle on home soil.
No EFL players played in South America during the international break, as Argentina secured their place at the World Cup.
Africa
Many EFL players took to the field in African World Cup Qualifiers as they sought to earn their team one of the nine spots at the tournament. With only 9 teams qualifying, only the winner of each qualifying group progresses, making the competition in the groups extremely fierce.
Notts County striker Alassana Jatta and Derby County midfielder Ebou Adams were part of the Gambia squad that drew 3-3 with Kenya and lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast, who had Watford’s Vakoun Bayo in their team. That result eliminates Gambia from World Cup contention but leaves Ivory Coast top of group F by one point ahead of Gabon.
Salford City duo Tyreece Fornah and Haji Mnoga were part of the Sierra Leone and Tanzania teams respectively. Plymouth’s Mustapha Bundu also played for Sierra Leone, and he scored as they beat Guinea-Bissau 3-1. Angola gave a debut to Stoke City forward Andre Vidigal and Cardiff City’s Andy Rinomhota and Luton’s Marvellous Nakamba were selected for Zimbabwe.
Burnley pair Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster both enjoyed pivotal victories in both of their matches for Tunisia and South Africa respectively, meaning both teams are comfortably top of their qualifying group beyond the halfway mark in the campaign. The Clarets will be hoping both players continue their run of securing crucial wins as they chase Premier League promotion.
They are joined as group leaders by DR Congo. Watford’s Edo Kayembe and Jeremy Ngakia as well as Grady Diangana from West Brom were all on the bench for them, as DR Congo team that beat South Sudan 1-0 and Mauritania 2-0 to boost their hopes at World Cup qualification by taking first place in Group B, one point ahead of Senegal in a nail-biting race.
