Arsenal stars to miss World Cup warm-up matches after Champions League final qualification

Arsenal will meet Bayern Munich or PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest at the end of the month after beating Atletico Madrid

Several Arsenal players look set to miss their respective nation's penultimate World Cup warm-up matches after the Gunners booked their ticket to Budapest for the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta's Double-chasing Premier League leaders will meet Bayern Munich or holders Paris Saint-Germain, who collide at the Allianz Arena this evening, at the Puskas Arena on May 30th.

The Champions League final is scheduled to take place six days after the conclusion of the 2025-26 Premier League season, meaning those involved will arrive late to their national team camps.

International managers are, however, expected to ratify extra rest for participants ahead of this summer's World Cup to minimise the risk of injury.

The showpiece tournament starts on June 11 when Mexico square off against South Africa at the Azteca in a repeat of the opening fixture that took place in 2010.

Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli will not be available for Brazil's final World Cup warm-up matches on home soil against Panama at the Maracana on May 31.

There is also a slim chance, though it seems unlikely, that Gabriel Jesus could yet be included in Carlo Ancelotti's Selecao squad. The game in Rio de Janeiro against England's Group L opponents takes place on May 31, the day after the Champions League final.

Meanwhile, Gunners defender Piero Hincapie will be unavailable for Ecuador's friendly against Saudi Arabia in New Jersey on May 30, the same day Arsenal have a shot at European supremacy.

La Tri may also yet be without PSG centre-back Willian Pacho, who could well meet his compatriot in Hungary.

Kai Havertz is also poised to miss Germany's final warm-up match on home soil against Finland on May 31 in Mainz. The 2014 winners then head to Chicago to take on the USMNT in their final fixture before their Group E opener against Curacao.

The following day, on June 1, Martin Odegaard's Norway and Viktor Gyokeres' Sweden are due to meet in Oslo but both look set to miss the all-Scandinavian affair.

Norway do have a final World Cup warm-up match in New Jersey against Morocco before they appear at their first finals since 1998 while Sweden host Greece in Stockholm before heading to North America.

Leandro Trossard's involvement for Belgium against Croatia in Rijeka on May 2 is also in doubt while the following day (May 3), Jurrien Timber's Holland play Algeria in Rotterdam.

Because England's World Cup campaign does not begin until June 17, their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Tampa, Florida is not taking place until June 6.

It means the likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and potentially Ben White, Noni Madueke and Myles Lewis-Skelly can enjoy some rest and possibly a celebratory parade, before linking up with Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions.

FIFA regulations state clubs participating in UEFA finals are not expected to release players for international duty until June 30.