Barcelona’s Standouts and Setbacks at World Cup 2026

After five intense weeks, World Cup 2026 wrapped up with Spain claiming their second-ever world champion title. Barcelona had an impressive 16 players representing various countries, but their experiences varied widely.

Disappointments on Defense

Ronald Araujo faced a harsh break as injury struck before the tournament began, sidelining him for Uruguay’s entire campaign. This marks the second consecutive World Cup where injuries kept him off the pitch. Uruguay, led by Marcelo Bielsa, failed to advance beyond the group stage, including a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde—one of their most humiliating results against a football minnow.

Netherlands and De Jong’s Struggles

The Netherlands exited at the Round of 32 after losing on penalties to Morocco. Given the talent in their squad, this was a disappointing outcome. Frenkie de Jong’s knee injury may have played a role; it's now known he competed throughout the tournament despite the issue. Barcelona's medical team faces decisions about his recovery, and it looks like he might miss the start of the league season, which weakens Barca before competition even begins.

Raphinha’s Hamstring Woes

Raphinha’s World Cup was cut short due to a hamstring injury that has plagued him for months. After playing 90 minutes against Morocco, he managed only 39 minutes against Haiti before pulling up again. While he's reportedly recovering, Barcelona will likely manage his return carefully given his history of setbacks.

Bright Spots from Spain

Barcelona’s Spanish players had cause to celebrate. Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal all lifted the trophy after defeating Argentina. Ferran’s winning goal in the final should do wonders for his confidence, and Cubarsi earned the Young Player of the Tournament award. Lamine performed consistently, and all eight returned healthy, ready for the new season after a deserved break.

England’s Anthony Gordon Shines

Though England fell short, Anthony Gordon showed glimpses of what fans can expect. Expected to step into the shoes of Marcus Rashford and challenge Raphinha for a starting spot, Gordon impressed with relentless effort, scoring once and assisting three times. His semi-final goal was a highlight, even if England couldn't advance further.

Egypt’s Rising Star

Hamza Abdelkarim may be unfamiliar to many Barca fans, but his 15 minutes spread across four games showed plenty of promise. Egypt didn’t progress far, yet reached their best World Cup performance ever. Abdelkarim’s experience here could prove invaluable as he adapts to Barcelona’s environment.

Which Barcelona players caught your eye during World Cup 2026? Let us know in the comments!