The 2026 World Cup is set to disrupt Fantasy Premier League planning before the new domestic campaign even begins. With the tournament concluding just 33 days before the Premier League season kicks off, many high-profile players face shortened pre-seasons and potentially limited early minutes.
World Cup Workload Poses Premier League FPL Threat
According to Fantasy Football Fix, players involved at the World Cup are expected to receive a minimum of three weeks of rest before rejoining their clubs. For those who reach the final, the earliest possible return to club training is around 10 August. With the Premier League starting less than two weeks later, building early-season squads requires careful consideration.
The scheduling squeeze extends well beyond the opening weekend. There are five Premier League gameweeks before the extended international break on 21 September, meaning any early uncertainty over player fitness could impact squads for the first month of the season.
Several Premier League players have already surpassed the 450-minute mark at the tournament. Alexis Mac Allister and Ezri Konsa have both logged 539 minutes, while Rodri has reached 537 minutes for Spain. Elliot Anderson, who is transferring from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, has played 533 minutes for England.
Other heavily utilized players include Lisandro Martínez, Marc Guéhi, Enzo Fernández, Nico O'Reilly, Cristian Romero and William Saliba. Fantasy Football Fix reported that the critical question for managers is not simply which players attended the World Cup, but how much football they actually played.
Manchester City and Arsenal Carry Highest Risk
Manchester City have the highest World Cup workload of any Premier League squad, with their players recording 5,027 minutes at the tournament. City's early fixtures look highly appealing on paper, featuring home matches against Bournemouth, Coventry City and Sunderland within the opening five gameweeks. However, their heavy international involvement adds a significant layer of risk.
Elliot Anderson is one player attracting major interest. The Predicted Player Price tool suggests he will be priced at £7.0m for the 2026/27 season, up from a £5.5m starting price last term. After scoring 180 points across 3,332 minutes last campaign, his stock is rising. But at a predicted £7.0m, managers will need to be far more certain about his role and minutes before committing.
Arsenal rank second for total World Cup workload, with their squad recording 4,285 minutes. The Gunners have a favorable opening run, ranking sixth for attacking fixture difficulty across the first six gameweeks. A gameweek one home match against Coventry City will make Arsenal assets extremely popular.
Yet key players like William Saliba, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka were all involved heavily at the tournament. Managers must decide whether Arsenal's fixtures justify the risk, or whether a safer short-term option makes more sense.
Other Clubs Facing Fixture Congestion
Manchester City and Arsenal are not the only sides affected. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United have all seen their squads pass 2,500 World Cup minutes. For Liverpool, Mac Allister stands out in terms of tournament workload. Managers are advised to monitor preseason minutes, early team news and manager comments closely before finalizing their gameweek one drafts.
