The 2026 World Cup final took place only 33 days before the Premier League season begins, leaving many players with limited time to rest and complete pre-season preparations. FIFA’s required three-week break means clubs may have to reintegrate key players shortly before competitive matches, potentially affecting fitness, tactical preparation and early-season availability.

Tottenham had four players involved during the World Cup’s final weekend, including Argentina finalists Cristian Romero and Marcos Senesi and Spain’s Pedro Porro, while Djed Spence was with England for the third-place play-off. Manchester City and Arsenal had the largest groups of players reach the later stages: City’s Rodri played 726 minutes for champions Spain and has since undergone back surgery, while Arsenal’s William Saliba faces an extended absence with a back problem. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez recorded the tournament’s highest workload, playing all 810 minutes of Argentina’s run to the final.