Each World Cup leaves its mark on Premier League squads, however this one feels notably intense.
The match within the US, and ends on Sunday, leaving simply 33 days earlier than the beginning of the brand new Premier League season.
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Whereas golf equipment in ‘s high flight have begun pre-season preparations, many are with out key gamers whose minutes proceed so as to add up in the US.
Opta knowledge exhibits some Premier League groups have carried a far heavier World Cup burden than others, with final 12 months’s high two – and – proper on the high of the record.
Metropolis high the charts
Manchester Metropolis high the Premier League workload chart with 5,027 World Cup minutes performed by their squad.
Rodri alone has performed 537 minutes, centre-back 483 and defender 454. , who’s transferring from to the Etihad, has added an additional 533 minutes for England.
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Proper behind them are Arsenal, whose gamers have clocked 4,285 minutes, the second highest whole within the league.
has performed 450 minutes for , 386 for England, 288, 267, 136 and 130.
, and observe, all above 2,500 minutes.
are among the many groups represented least, with barely greater than 600 minutes.
(600) and (570) lead all Premier League gamers for minutes, although goalkeepers naturally face completely different bodily calls for from outfield gamers.
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Injured Premier League gamers
The damage record has grown steadily because the match has gone on.
Aston Villa midfielder suffered essentially the most severe setback, throughout ‘s 4-1 win over the USA.
Manchester United’s additionally had his match ended early after through the group stage with .
whereas celebrating England’s win over Mexico however the Brentford midfielder has remained with Tuchel’s squad.
was pressured off towards with a suspected proper ankle damage and was seen with ice strapped round it.
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‘s elimination meant he didn’t miss additional matches, however the damage continues to be being assessed. “Personally, time will inform,” he instructed the BBC, having made the transfer from Liverpool to this summer season.
, who featured for England towards , continues to be managing his personal hamstring damage and has been eased by way of the match.
Soccer’s packed calendar
Seven of Arsenal’s squad may have performed as much as 65 matches this season – relying on their availability – with 57 matches through the 2025-26 season and eight on the World Cup.
Manchester Metropolis and have gamers who’ve competed in three consecutive summer season tournaments.
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The Euros and Copa America happened in 2024, adopted up by final summer season’s Membership World Cup after which this 12 months’s World Cup.
One of many gamers who took half in all three was Metropolis midfielder Rodri – who mentioned in 2024 that gamers had been due to the sheer variety of video games.
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta, and new Manchester Metropolis boss Enzo Maresca have beforehand warned the packed soccer schedule will not be sustainable.
Maresca – whereas Chelsea supervisor – argued the trade does “not defend gamers”.
Following an damage to in February 2025, Arteta mentioned: “We have had gamers who’re injured who’ve performed 130 video games within the final two seasons, so it is an accident ready to occur, once you proceed to load, load and cargo.”
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Declan Rice has performed by way of each damage and sickness through the World Cup – and was substituted after 45 minutes throughout England’s win over Norway.
France defender Saliba has been coping with a again drawback.
Earlier than France’s recreation towards Iraq, he admitted he had had “minor niggles” however was decided to grit his enamel as a result of “the World Cup comes spherical solely as soon as each 4 years”.
What this implies for the Premier League restart
Gamers who’ve competed at this summer season’s World Cup are entitled to no less than three weeks off, in accordance with Fifa rules.
Gamers who characteristic in subsequent Sunday’s last won’t return to their golf equipment till 10 August, on the earliest. Lower than two weeks earlier than the brand new Premier League season begins.
There shall be 5 Premier League matchweeks earlier than an on 21 September.