The 2026 World Cup is less than a week away and four Leeds United stars will be in action. Gabriel Gudmundsson, Ao Tanaka, Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor should all have roles to play for their respective nations during football’ biggest tournament across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
That quartet will join a long list of Leeds players to feature at a World Cup, the first being Northern Ireland forward Wilbur Cush in 1958. In the 68 years since, stars have left West Yorkshire to play, score or even win the World Cup, writing their names into international history.
Below, the YEP has put together a Leeds World Cup XI of players to have made their mark on the tournament over the years - with a few hoping to do so this summer. Take a look to see who features...
7. CM: Billy Bremner
The combative midfielder captained Scotland at the 1974 World Cup, during which they held reigning champions Brazil to a 0-0 draw. | Getty Images
8. CM: Ao Tanaka
The midfielder looks set to represent Japan for a second World Cup this summer, having scored a famous winner against Spain during the 2022 edition in Qatar. - before his move to Leeds, of course. | Getty Images
9. LM: Noah Okafor
Will hope to fight his way back into the Switzerland starting-XI this summer, having enjoyed an excellent debut campaign at Leeds. | Getty Images
10. ST: Allan Clarke
Joined reigning champions England for the 1970 edition and scored a match-winning goal on debut against Czechoslovakia. | Getty Images
11. ST: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Represented the Netherlands during the 1998 World Cup, starting the group stage opener against Belgium before coming off the bench against Mexico. | Getty Images