Six Serie A stars have secured their places in the final four of the 2026 World Cup following the conclusion of the quarter-final stage. France and Argentina are the only remaining nations featuring Italian-based players, with Les Bleus supplying four representatives and the Albiceleste contributing two.
Didier Deschamps’ French contingent features Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot, Roma’s Manu Kone, and Inter forward Marcus Thuram. These players helped France overcome Morocco 2-0 in their last-eight encounter to set up a semi-final meeting with Spain.
Argentina’s duo both ply their trade in Lombardy. Inter captain Lautaro Martinez lines up alongside Thuram at club level, though the pair will be rivals in the next round. Como attacker Nico Paz has enjoyed a breakthrough tournament and started the quarter-final victory. The defending champions required extra time to defeat Switzerland 3-1 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Quarter-final cull
The past week has proven costly for Serie A’s broader World Cup presence, with 15 Italian-based players eliminated across four quarter-final ties. Norway suffered the heaviest losses, seeing five of their squad exit after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England. The departed Scandinavian contingent includes Morten Thorsby, Leo Ostigard, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Torbjorn Heggem and Kristian Thorstvedt.
Spain overcame Belgium by the same scoreline, while England needed an additional 30 minutes to dispatch Norway 2-1 on Saturday night. Belgium’s exit spelled the end for Napoli pair Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, plus Milan defenders Koni De Winter and Alexis Saelemaekers, and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere. Switzerland’s defeat against Argentina eliminated Inter defender Manuel Akani, Bologna’s Remo Freuler, Pisa’s Michel Aebischer and Ardon Jashari of Milan. Morocco’s 2-0 reverse to France curtailed the tournament of Roma midfielder Neil El-Aynaoui.
Semi-final stage
France will face Spain on Tuesday evening for a place in the final. The remaining Serie A players are guaranteed at least a bronze medal match should their nations fall at this hurdle, with the final scheduled for Sunday. For Thuram and Martinez, a potential club-versus-country dynamic looms if both France and Argentina progress to the decider.