The World Cup is almost upon us and a multitude of Chelsea players will be jetting off to represent their countries soon, while a few will be taking part in pre-season training
07:00, 28 May 2026
Xabi Alonso
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Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Xabi Alonso takes on the role of Chelsea manager in little over a month's time and the Spaniard will be in the dugout for the first time a few weeks after.
The Blues take on Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney, Australia, in the opening match of their four-country pre-season tour on July 28. That will be the first time Alonso gets to see his new players out on the pitch, however he is unlikely to have a full squad to choose from.
Those who get to the latter stages of the World Cup, with the tournament concluding on July 19, nine days before Chelsea's first pre-season match, are likely to be given a bit of time off this summer. The Blues will take the lengthy flight to Australia a few days before their first match and we are yet to know for absolute certain who will be on the plane.
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We now know the majority of those not going to the World Cup from a Chelsea point of view. However, at the time of writing, we do not know for definite about Enzo Fernandez, Alejandro Garnacho, Aaron Anselmino, Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez. In Fernandez and Caicedo's cases, they are shoo-ins.
Reece James is the only Chelsea representative in the England squad. Fellow Englishmen Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Tyrique George (if he returns from Everton, who have an option to buy, loan spell), Omari Kellyman and Teddy Sharman-Lowe will all be available for the pre-season tour.
Tosin Adarabioyo, who has never publicly stated who he wishes to represent out of England and Nigeria, is also set to train with Alonso this summer.
Brazilian trio Estevao Willian (injured), Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos are also not in their country's World Cup squad. Marc Cucurella will represent Spain in the tournament, but Robert Sanchez and Marc Guiu have not been selected.
Five Chelsea stars not going to the World Cup this summer
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Five Chelsea stars not going to the World Cup
United States, one of the three co-hosts of the tournament, have not selected duo Caleb Wiley and Gabriel Slonina, who could have the opportunity to impress their new gaffer.
France have selected Malo Gusto in their summer squad. However, the likes of Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi have not been chosen for the trip.
Mamadou Sarr and returning loanee Nicolas Jackson will represent Senegal, while Jorrel Hato has earned a place in the Netherlands squad. Pedro Neto will play for Portugal, but Dario Essugo has not been called up. Wantaway goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is part of the Denmark squad.
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Romeo Lavia, who picked up another injury at the end of the recently-concluded campaign, is not part of the Belgium squad. Young goalkeeper Mike Penders is set to be part of the first-team plans at Stamford Bridge next season, as reported on Wednesday, but he will be a late arrival because he is with the Belgium squad for their World Cup campaign.
Fellow new signings Dastan Satpayev (Kazakhstan - not qualified), Geovany Quenda (Portugal - not selected) and Emmanuel Emegha (Netherlands - not selected) will all be available in the summer for Chelsea. Valentin Barco could be named in the Argentina squad but that has not been announced at the time of writing.