Will Brighton have another World Cup winner in 2026?

Brighton & Hove Albion could be represented by as many as 12 players at this summer’s expanded World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, reviving memories of the club’s triumphant connection to the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Argentina’s Alex Mac Allister, then a Brighton midfielder, returned to the south-coast club with a winner’s medal and a hero’s welcome; the question now is whether any of his former team-mates can follow suit.

Eleven senior squad members have dispersed on international duty this month, with four still involved in the final throes of qualification. Kaoru Mitoma is already assured of a place after Japan became the first nation to book passage beyond the co-hosts, scoring in a 2-0 win over Bahrain that sealed an eighth consecutive finals appearance. Mitoma contributed a goal and three assists in seven Asian qualifiers and will hope to improve on Japan’s last-16 exit of four years ago.

Paraguay’s Diego Gomez is another guaranteed traveller. The versatile midfielder started 11 of Paraguay’s South American fixtures, registering six clean sheets and scoring the winner against Brazil in September 2024 to help clinch sixth place and a first World Cup berth since 2010.

European qualifying has delivered two more certainties. Bart Verbruggen kept three clean sheets in six outings to help the Netherlands top Group G, while centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke started twice alongside Virgil van Dijk as Ronald Koeman’s side sealed their place with a 4-0 defeat of Lithuania. Maxim De Cuyper’s attacking output—two goals and two assists—was instrumental in Belgium winning Group J without defeat.

Jason Steele’s surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan keeps the 35-year-old goalkeeper in the frame for a squad role, though former Under-21 colleague Danny Welbeck appears a distant contender after being omitted. Pascal Gross, 34, is back in the Germany fold following a strong second spell at Brighton, recalled for fixtures against Switzerland and Ghana after drifting out of Julian Nagelsmann’s plans post-Euro 2024.

The remaining Brighton hopefuls must navigate the European play-offs. Italy’s Diego Coppola, buoyed by regular minutes at Paris FC, could face Wales—Brighton first-team coach Andrew Crofts is assistant to Welsh boss Craig Bellamy—while Yasin Ayari hopes to feature for Sweden against Ukraine. Ferdi Kadioglu’s recent club form has earned a place in Turkey’s contingent for a semi-final with Romania, and Evan Ferguson—currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained on loan at Roma—will watch on as the Republic of Ireland meet the Czech Republic for a place in the finals.

Elsewhere, Matt O’Riley’s lack of game time since January has cost him a Denmark call-up, and Brajan Gruda’s loan switch to RB Leipzig has yet to yield a Germany summons. Facundo Buonanotte’s limited minutes at Chelsea and Leeds have ended any lingering Argentina hopes, while Canada’s Tom McGill, third in Brighton’s pecking order, has fallen out of consideration. Cameroon’s failure to qualify rules out Carlos Baleba, still courted by Manchester United, and Gambia’s absence means Yankuba Minteh will watch the tournament from afar.

Should any of Brighton’s dozen contenders go all the way, the club will once again bask in global glory—just as it did when Mac Allister paraded the trophy through the training ground in 2023.