WORLD CUP ROUNDUP

Sunderland had an unprecedented 12 players at the FIFA World Cup in America over the summer following a historic return to the Premier League last season.

And with the 2026 World Cup coming to an end last weekend in New Jersey, the world's focus now turns back to their countries' domestic leagues. Sunderland’s pre-season has already begun with an impressive 5-1 win away to York City as the countdown to the Premier League season is well underway.

The FIFA World Cup saw Sunderland have more players attend the tournament than the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool. Incredibly 11 out of the 12 players advanced to the knockout rounds of the competition. The club's representatives combined to eight goals across the competition, with only Arsenal from the Premier League out performing that number. Remarkably, this World Cup was the first time a Sunderland player had ever scored at a World Cup Finals, when Granit Xhaka tucked away a penalty against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following on from an historic World Cup for Sunderland’s players, here is how all 12 players fared over the summer:

GRANIT XHAKA

Club captain Granit Xhaka had a historic World Cup in the Americas, captaining the side to only their fourth quarter-final in their history and the first time in over 70 years before being beaten by finalists Argentina in extra-time. Xhaka helped the side top their group, scoring a penalty in the process as well as a penalty in the shootout against Columbia in the Round of 16.

CHEMSDINE TALBI

Talbi’s Morocco saw their campaign end in the quarter-finals after a resilient defeat to 2022 finalists France. Talbi made his World Cup debut in their opening game against Brazil off the bench before earning Morocco a dramatic late equaliser against the Netherlands in the Round of 32, before scoring a penalty in the shootout, becoming the youngest Moroccan to ever register an assist at a World Cup. This earned him his first international start for the AFCON champions in the defeat to France.

WILSON ISIDOR

Wilson Isidor’s breakout Premier League season saw him switch allegiances from France to Haiti earlier this year, which saw him score their first goal at a World Cup in 52 years with a thunderous strike against Morocco which has been nominated for goal of the tournament. Haiti was knocked out in the group stage after narrow defeats to Scotland and Morocco saw them finish the group fourth.

BRIAN BROBBEY

Brian Brobbey’s impressive debut season for Sunderland saw him fight his way back into the Dutch XI becoming a key figure for Ronald Koeman’s World Cup squad. His campaign began with two goals inside 20 minutes against Sweden in a 5-1 win, setting a record for the fastest brace in Dutch World Cup history. This scoring streak carried on into the game against Tunisia, scoring a goal inside seven minutes and winning man of the match in their 3-1 victory. The Netherlands were knocked out on penalties by Talbi’s Morocco.

OMAR ALDERETE

Alderete’s World Cup campaign saw him rack up a remarkable 42 clearances in the three group stage games which saw Paraguay earn a place in the knockout rounds through the third-place play-offs. The centre back however was injured for the round of 32 tie against Germany in which they beat the Germans in a shocking penalty shootout. Alderete was deemed fit enough to start in the round of 16 tie against France but came off injured after 60 minutes with the game level. France went on to win the game 1-0.

SIMON ADINGRA

The Ivorian’s campaign saw them be knocked out in the round of 32 against a brilliant Norway side with Adingra registering 16 minutes against Germany in a 2-1 defeat in the group stages.

NILSON ANGULO

The Ecuadorian winger became a national hero for Ecuador, after scoring in a dramatic 2-1 win against four time World Cup winners Germany, his long range strike sparked a remarkable comeback to see them out of the group while Angulo earned himself man of the match. Ecuador eventually fell to Mexico in the Round of 32 in the Azteca.

HABIB DIARRA

After victory in the AFCON final, Diarra’s Senegal side reached the round of 32 in which they were defeated by Belgium in extra time 3-2. Diarra earned his first World Cup start against Iraq, scoring to earn his side a place in the knockout rounds, he also scored in the round of 32 game, becoming the first Senegal player in history to score in both of his first two World Cup starts.

NOAH SADIKI AND ARTHUR MASUAKU

Noah Sadiki’s stellar Premier League campaign for Sunderland continued in his cameo for DR Congo at the World Cup as they reached the knockout rounds for the first time. Sadiki featured as a substitute in both the 1-1 draw to Portugal earning their first ever point at a World Cup and the narrow defeat to Columbia, before becoming the youngest Congolese player to start a match in World Cup history, playing 90 minutes in the win against Uzbekistan. While Arthur Masuaku earned an assist for the equaliser against Portugal. DR Congo’s campaign came to an end against England in the round of 32 after a late second half brace by Harry Kane overturned the Congolese early lead.

ROBIN ROEFS AND LUTSHAREL GEERTRUIDA

Roefs and Geertruida were both called up by Ronald Koeman as back ups to the Dutch starting XI. Roefs failed to make an appearance in the tournament while Geertruida made cameos in the wins against Sweden and Tunisia in the group stages before suffering heartbreak in the defeat to Morocco on penalties in the round of 32.