World Cup and Friendlies: Inter Players on International Duty

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching quickly, and the participating squads have now been confirmed. The tournament will be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the group stage beginning on June 11, 2026, and running until June 28. The final is set for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New York, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 Italian time.

Inter will be well represented at the tournament, with nine players called up to their national teams. Seven of them will head to the World Cup itself, while two more are scheduled to take part in pre-tournament friendlies before joining their countries for the competition. The Inter players involved are Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Manuel Akanji, Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu, Petar Sucic, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Francesco Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski.

Argentina will rely on Lautaro Martinez as they prepare for a demanding group stage. Before World Cup action begins, Argentina will face Honduras and Iceland in friendlies. In the tournament, they will meet Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City, Austria on June 22 in Arlington and Jordan on June 28, also in Arlington.

France will have Marcus Thuram in their squad. Their preparation includes friendly matches against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland. In the World Cup group stage, France will face Senegal in New York on June 16, Iraq in Philadelphia on June 22 and Norway in Boston on June 26.

Switzerland have selected Manuel Akanji. Their warm-up matches include fixtures against Jordan and Australia. At the World Cup, Switzerland will play Qatar in Santa Clara on June 13, Bosnia Herzegovina in Inglewood on June 18 and Canada in Vancouver on June 24.

The Netherlands will be represented by Denzel Dumfries. Dutch friendlies against Algeria and Uzbekistan will precede World Cup matches against Japan in Dallas on June 14, Sweden in Houston on June 20 and Tunisia in Kansas City on June 26.

Türkiye will count on Hakan Calhanoglu, with friendlies against North Macedonia and Venezuela before facing Australia in Vancouver on June 14, Paraguay in Santa Clara on June 20 and the United States in Inglewood on June 26.

Croatia have called up Petar Sucic. Their friendly schedule includes Belgium and Slovenia, followed by World Cup matches against England in Arlington on June 17, Panama in Toronto on June 24 and Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27.

Ange-Yoan Bonny has been selected by Ivory Coast, who will play France in a friendly in Nantes. Their World Cup group stage features Ecuador, Germany and Curaçao.

Francesco Pio Esposito will be with Italy for friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece.

Poland have taken Piotr Zielinski for friendlies against Ukraine and Nigeria.

With the tournament nearing, the Inter contingent will be spread across several continents in the opening weeks of the summer, each player balancing final preparations with national-team ambitions ahead of the biggest event in world football.