The 2026 World Cup is on the horizon, but Chelsea won’t be represented by one of their main midfielders, despite him enjoying a run in the side of late.
Chelsea‘s contingent for the 2026 World Cup is already taking shape as national managers finalise their squads for North America.
Malo Gusto became the first official Blue confirmed for the tournament, earning a well-deserved place in Didier Deschamps’s final 26-man France squad after a standout season of 47 appearances. Alongside him, Mike Penders has been named in Belgium’s final squad for this summer.
While England and Argentina have submitted massive 55-man provisional lists, lock-ins like Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are fully expected to make the final cut next week.
With several other first-team figures firmly established in their respective national setups, the Blues are guaranteed a massive global presence this summer.
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Romeo Lavia left out of Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad
Romeo Lavia has officially been left out of Belgium’s final 26-man World Cup squad.
Despite Lavia rallying to make over twenty appearances for Chelsea and showcasing his quality in the back half of the season, his earlier injury struggles ultimately cost him his seat on the plane.
While the snub is a massive personal heartbreak for Lavia, it leaves him completely free to focus on an uninterrupted pre-season under Chelsea’s incoming manager.
Former Chelsea duo Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku both made the squad.
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