The 2026 World Cup is quickly approaching and Aston Villa fans will be keen to see some of their top stars taking to the pitch in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
18 nations have already confirmed their qualification for the tournament, while a number of European countries are on the verge of doing the same, which means several Villa stars will be pushing for inclusion in the 26-man squad.
The likes of Emi Martinez, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, among others, are pushing to be there, but several other stars in the running could make it into squads with a good season this year. GIVEMESPORT has now ranked the chances of Aston Villa stars heading to the World Cup next summer.
Ranking Factors
Current form
Importance to their national team
Injury status
Their last call-up
16 Jadon Sancho - England
Jadon Sancho
Sancho's career has been an odd one in recent years, but he will be hoping that he can rediscover the form that saw him tipped to be an England regular for years to come after joining Aston Villa on loan on deadline day.
The 25-year-old has the talent and ability to really become a key player under Unai Emery, and that means he will always have a chance. But the competition in the wide positions for England is arguably the strongest it's been in decades, so it would be a huge shock if Sancho was on the plane.
15 Harvey Elliott - England
Harvey Elliott in action for the England under-21 side
Another player who has joined the club this summer is Harvey Elliott, and he has already made it clear that his ambition is to make it to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
After shining with the Under-21's last summer, he knows tournament football and like Sancho, he has the quality and ability to make a real difference. But again, the competition in those attacking positions is so fierce that he would need an extraordinary season to break into the setup now ahead of the tournament.
14 Ian Maatsen - Netherlands
Ian Maatsen
The Netherlands are known for having marauding wing-backs and under Ronald Koeman, he has a chance of being one of the options on the left-hand side.
However, Maatsen isn't seen as first-choice for Emery at Villa Park and for the Netherlands he has just one cap to his name. It would take a big season for him to break into the side now, but he has the ability and it would be something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
13 John McGinn - Scotland
John McGinn in action for Scotland against Denmark
The Villa skipper is a shoe-in for the World Cup if Scotland get there, but it is by no means a sure thing that the Tartan Army make it to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Currently, Scotland are sitting in second place in their qualifying group after two games, level on points with Denmark. But it could be a tough route for them to qualify if they don't do it automatically, and that's the only reason why McGinn is so far down this list.
12 Victor Lindelof - Sweden
Victor Lindelof in action for Sweden
Victor Lindelof in action for Sweden
The Sweden captain was another late arrival in the transfer window on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United, and Lindelof will be hoping to play regularly under Emery to spark his career back into life.
But he has several top centre-backs ahead of him in the pecking order which will make it difficult, and while he is the national team skipper if he isn't playing regularly enough it means the manager may be forced to look elsewhere for his squad.
11 Pau Torres - Spain
Pau Torres and Ollie Watkins
Torres is one of the starting central defenders when everyone is fit at Villa Park, and his performances in recent years are deserving of a spot in most international teams.
But Spain are not most teams and their options all over the pitch are incredible. Torres hasn't been in a Spain squad since October 2024 and hasn't played for his country since 2023, but he is surely right on the brink of a call-up should he maintain his level of performance and any of the other players aren't available.
10 Morgan Rogers - England
Morgan Rogers in action for Aston Villa
Rogers is without a doubt one of the first names on the teamsheet at Villa Park for Aston Villa, but the same can't be said for England.
A stunning international break means he is definitely in Tuchel's thinking now and pushing for a spot, but as mentioned earlier, competition is fierce. He's battling with the likes of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden for a spot as the number ten, and if everyone is fit and firing it wouldn't be a surprise to see him miss out.
9 Donyell Malen - Netherlands
Donyell Malen
The Netherlands are on the verge of qualification for the World Cup, and that immediately shoots Malen up the rankings as a result. But the winger has had a difficult time since joining back in January.
Malen has 45 caps and was part of the most recent squad under Koeman meaning he is certainly in the manager's plans. But Koeman has said in the past that only players who are playing regularly will be considered, so Malen will have to take his opportunity when it comes.
8
7 Amadou Onana - Belgium
Amadou Onana
The midfield general for Belgium's Red Devils, Onana will almost certainly be in the squad next summer should Belgium reach the World Cup.
But it's fair to say that when everyone is fit at Aston Villa, he isn't one of the first-choice central midfielders at the club and should he fail to break into that side as a regular, then it could put his spot with the national team under threat too considering the quality they have.