With the 23rd World Cup on the horizon - the first to feature an expanded 48-team format - we'll take a look at which professional soccer clubs have historically contributed the most players to the prestigious tournament.
Since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, national teams have relied on a deep pool of talent from pro clubs around the globe. The following ranking compiles the total number of players called up from each club for every edition of the tournament, revealing the powerhouses that have consistently supplied the world's biggest stage.
The list is, unsurprisingly, dominated by European giants, though three South American clubs - River Plate, Peñarol, and Nacional - secure spots in the top 20.
Playing for the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup, Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) have each contributed to the list below.
Professional Soccer Clubs with the Most World Cup Call-Ups
Barcelona - 157
Juventus - 143
Real Madrid - 140
Bayern Munich - 140
Inter Milan - 135
Manchester United - 124
AC Milan - 115
Arsenal - 99
Liverpool - 96
Chelsea - 96
Tottenham - 89
Manchester City - 87
Ajax - 82
Atletico Madrid - 80
River Plate - 71
Rome - 70
Peñarol - 68
Nacional - 66
Borussia Dortmund - 63
Benfica - 61
