The Cliff

The Premier League takeover

Where the world's best actually work: the share of all World Cup players employed in each big-five league at kick-off (the league they logged the most minutes in over the 12 months before the tournament), 2002→2026. Cache-only.

The Premier League overtook Serie A

In 2002 the Premier League (11%) and Serie A were a dead heat; by 2022 the Premier League employed 16% of all World Cup players — the single biggest of any league and double Serie A's 8%. The one twist: the 48-team 2026 expansion diluted every European league (the big five's combined share fell from 54% in 2022 to 40%), as 16 new squads brought players from outside the elite — most of the World Cup, 60%, now plays outside the big five.

20022006201020142018202220260255075100

■ Premier League ■ La Liga ■ Serie A ■ Bundesliga ■ Ligue 1 ■ Other / outside big-5

CSV ↓
YearPremier LeagueLa LigaSerie ABundesligaLigue 1Other
200211%8%10%7%7%57%
200612%7%8%10%7%57%
201015%8%10%11%6%50%
201415%9%11%10%6%49%
201814%11%8%9%7%51%
202216%11%8%10%8%46%
202613%6%5%8%6%60%

The employment map — every league, over time

The share of all World Cup players employed in each league at kick-off, 2002→2026 — the top 20 leagues by presence, on a shared scale. Beyond the big five, the risers are the Saudi Pro League, MLS and the Championship. Leagues we could not confirm from the cache (continental cups, minor codes) are pooled as Other / unmapped: 19% of the field in 2002, 10% in 2026.

Premier League (Eng)
Premier League (Eng) 2002: 10%Premier League (Eng) 2006: 11%Premier League (Eng) 2010: 14%Premier League (Eng) 2014: 14%Premier League (Eng) 2018: 13%Premier League (Eng) 2022: 13%Premier League (Eng) 2026: 13%
2026 13% · ▲ +2pp since ’02
Bundesliga (Ger)
Bundesliga (Ger) 2002: 7%Bundesliga (Ger) 2006: 9%Bundesliga (Ger) 2010: 11%Bundesliga (Ger) 2014: 10%Bundesliga (Ger) 2018: 8%Bundesliga (Ger) 2022: 9%Bundesliga (Ger) 2026: 8%
2026 8% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
Serie A (Ita)
Serie A (Ita) 2002: 9%Serie A (Ita) 2006: 8%Serie A (Ita) 2010: 10%Serie A (Ita) 2014: 10%Serie A (Ita) 2018: 8%Serie A (Ita) 2022: 8%Serie A (Ita) 2026: 5%
2026 5% · ▼ -4pp since ’02
LaLiga (Spa)
LaLiga (Spa) 2002: 7%LaLiga (Spa) 2006: 6%LaLiga (Spa) 2010: 8%LaLiga (Spa) 2014: 8%LaLiga (Spa) 2018: 10%LaLiga (Spa) 2022: 9%LaLiga (Spa) 2026: 6%
2026 6% · ▼ -1pp since ’02
Ligue 1 (Fra)
Ligue 1 (Fra) 2002: 6%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2006: 6%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2010: 5%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2014: 6%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2018: 6%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2022: 7%Ligue 1 (Fra) 2026: 6%
2026 6% · ▬ -0pp since ’02
Liga MX (Mex)
Liga MX (Mex) 2002: 4%Liga MX (Mex) 2006: 3%Liga MX (Mex) 2010: 3%Liga MX (Mex) 2014: 3%Liga MX (Mex) 2018: 3%Liga MX (Mex) 2022: 2%Liga MX (Mex) 2026: 2%
2026 2% · ▼ -2pp since ’02
Eredivisie (Ned)
Eredivisie (Ned) 2002: 2%Eredivisie (Ned) 2006: 4%Eredivisie (Ned) 2010: 4%Eredivisie (Ned) 2014: 3%Eredivisie (Ned) 2018: 2%Eredivisie (Ned) 2022: 3%Eredivisie (Ned) 2026: 3%
2026 3% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
MLS (USA/Can)
MLS (USA/Can) 2002: 2%MLS (USA/Can) 2006: 2%MLS (USA/Can) 2010: 2%MLS (USA/Can) 2014: 2%MLS (USA/Can) 2018: 3%MLS (USA/Can) 2022: 5%MLS (USA/Can) 2026: 4%
2026 4% · ▲ +2pp since ’02
Saudi Pro League (KSA)
Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2002: 3%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2006: 3%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2010: 0%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2014: 0%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2018: 4%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2022: 4%Saudi Pro League (KSA) 2026: 4%
2026 4% · ▲ +1pp since ’02
Süper Lig (Tur)
Süper Lig (Tur) 2002: 3%Süper Lig (Tur) 2006: 2%Süper Lig (Tur) 2010: 2%Süper Lig (Tur) 2014: 3%Süper Lig (Tur) 2018: 3%Süper Lig (Tur) 2022: 2%Süper Lig (Tur) 2026: 3%
2026 3% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
Primeira Liga (Por)
Primeira Liga (Por) 2002: 3%Primeira Liga (Por) 2006: 2%Primeira Liga (Por) 2010: 3%Primeira Liga (Por) 2014: 3%Primeira Liga (Por) 2018: 3%Primeira Liga (Por) 2022: 3%Primeira Liga (Por) 2026: 2%
2026 2% · ▼ -1pp since ’02
Premier Liga (Rus)
Premier Liga (Rus) 2002: 2%Premier Liga (Rus) 2006: 2%Premier Liga (Rus) 2010: 2%Premier Liga (Rus) 2014: 5%Premier Liga (Rus) 2018: 5%Premier Liga (Rus) 2022: 0%Premier Liga (Rus) 2026: 1%
2026 1% · ▼ -1pp since ’02
Championship (Eng)
Championship (Eng) 2002: 0%Championship (Eng) 2006: 2%Championship (Eng) 2010: 1%Championship (Eng) 2014: 1%Championship (Eng) 2018: 3%Championship (Eng) 2022: 3%Championship (Eng) 2026: 3%
2026 3% · ▲ +3pp since ’02
Pro League (Bel)
Pro League (Bel) 2002: 3%Pro League (Bel) 2006: 1%Pro League (Bel) 2010: 1%Pro League (Bel) 2014: 1%Pro League (Bel) 2018: 2%Pro League (Bel) 2022: 3%Pro League (Bel) 2026: 2%
2026 2% · ▼ -1pp since ’02
J1 League (Jpn)
J1 League (Jpn) 2002: 0%J1 League (Jpn) 2006: 3%J1 League (Jpn) 2010: 3%J1 League (Jpn) 2014: 2%J1 League (Jpn) 2018: 2%J1 League (Jpn) 2022: 1%J1 League (Jpn) 2026: 0%
2026 0% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
Brasileirão (Bra)
Brasileirão (Bra) 2002: 2%Brasileirão (Bra) 2006: 1%Brasileirão (Bra) 2010: 0%Brasileirão (Bra) 2014: 1%Brasileirão (Bra) 2018: 1%Brasileirão (Bra) 2022: 1%Brasileirão (Bra) 2026: 2%
2026 2% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
Super League (Gre)
Super League (Gre) 2002: 1%Super League (Gre) 2006: 0%Super League (Gre) 2010: 3%Super League (Gre) 2014: 2%Super League (Gre) 2018: 1%Super League (Gre) 2022: 1%Super League (Gre) 2026: 1%
2026 1% · ▬ -0pp since ’02
Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn)
Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2002: 0%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2006: 2%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2010: 0%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2014: 2%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2018: 1%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2022: 1%Persian Gulf Pro League (Irn) 2026: 2%
2026 2% · ▲ +2pp since ’02
Super League (Sui)
Super League (Sui) 2002: 1%Super League (Sui) 2006: 2%Super League (Sui) 2010: 2%Super League (Sui) 2014: 2%Super League (Sui) 2018: 1%Super League (Sui) 2022: 1%Super League (Sui) 2026: 1%
2026 1% · ▬ +0pp since ’02
K League 1 (Kor)
K League 1 (Kor) 2002: 1%K League 1 (Kor) 2006: 0%K League 1 (Kor) 2010: 2%K League 1 (Kor) 2014: 1%K League 1 (Kor) 2018: 2%K League 1 (Kor) 2022: 2%K League 1 (Kor) 2026: 1%
2026 1% · ▼ -1pp since ’02