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.
■ Premier League ■ La Liga ■ Serie A ■ Bundesliga ■ Ligue 1 ■ Other / outside big-5
Year
Premier League
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Other
2002
11%
8%
10%
7%
7%
57%
2006
12%
7%
8%
10%
7%
57%
2010
15%
8%
10%
11%
6%
50%
2014
15%
9%
11%
10%
6%
49%
2018
14%
11%
8%
9%
7%
51%
2022
16%
11%
8%
10%
8%
46%
2026
13%
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.