More than 80 players with English Football League (EFL) clubs were in squads at the 2026 World Cup, well clear of the 30 who made it to Qatar four years ago.
The numbers reach beyond the Championship too, with players from League One and League Two in the mix across the squads. Canada, Australia and Scotland carry the largest EFL contingents, sending second-tier names to North America alongside the more familiar household names.
Harry Kane took the early headlines for the favourites, scoring twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. His brace kept him near the top of the England top goalscorer odds, no surprise for a captain appearing at his third World Cup. Further down the English pyramid, though, several second-tier names have already made their mark.
In this article, we look at four EFL players who’ve stood out in the opening round of group games.
Nestory Irankunda
Irankunda announced himself early in the tournament. The Watford winger came off the back of his first season in the Championship to score Australia’s opener in a 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver, cutting inside three defenders before firing low into the corner. At 20, he became the youngest player to score for the Socceroos at a World Cup, and he was named the standout performer on the night. He marked the goal with a corner-flag punch in tribute to Australia great Tim Cahill.
Harry Souttar
Souttar produced one of the defensive displays of the tournament in that same win over Turkey. The Leicester City centre-back marshalled the Australia back line through a clean sheet and even clocked one of the quicker sprint speeds recorded across the group stage. The context makes it more striking still. He had managed only a couple of club appearances all season after rupturing his Achilles, an injury he suffered twice during a 15-month layoff, yet he returned to dominate on the biggest stage.
Cyle Larin
Larin has scored in both of Canada’s group games. The Southampton forward came off the bench against Bosnia and Herzegovina and equalised with his first touch, barely two minutes after coming on, to earn the co-hosts their first ever World Cup point. He then opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes against Qatar, settling Canada before Jonathan David added a hat-trick in a 6-0 win. A fine return for a striker who spent last season in the Championship rather than the top flight.
Paik Seung-ho
Paik has been a steady presence in the South Korea midfield across their opening two games. The Birmingham City man started the 2-1 win over Czechia, playing 84 minutes as his side came from behind to take three points, and he featured again in the defeat to Mexico. A regular in Birmingham’s Championship side last season, he provides South Korea with control in the middle and boasts previous World Cup pedigree, having scored a long-range goal against Brazil in 2022.
Australia’s win over Turkey, Canada’s rout of Qatar and South Korea’s opening victory have all leaned on EFL players. With more than 80 second and third-tier names spread across the squads in North America, the football odds in several groups have already been shaped by contributions from below the Premier League.