Chelsea will have a heavy presence on the pitch in Qatar (Picture: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

Chelsea continued their disappointing run of form with a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in their final game before the World Cup takes place in Qatar.

A total of 12 players from the Blues squad will be jetting off to the Middle East meaning that manager Graham Potter will have a depleted squad to work with over the six week hiatus as he looks to engineer an uptick in results for when domestic football returns next month.

But exactly which members of the Blues’ squad will be on the plane to Qatar?

We take a look at the Chelsea players playing in the World Cup this winter.

Denis Zakaria

Despite barely featuring for the club this season following his loan move from Juventus, Zakaria has been a pivotal player in the middle of the park for Switzerland in recent years alongside Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.

Thiago Silva

The veteran centre half will be playing in his third World Cup for Brazil, in what will likely be the 38 year-old’s last ever appearance in the competition.

Silva will be playing in his third World Cup (Picture: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Hakim Ziyech

The standout player in a talented crop of Moroccan players, Ziyech returns to the squad having temporarily quit the national team back in February 2022 due to a falling out with former coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

Christian Pulisic

Pulisic heads to Qatar as the poster boy of American football, with the USA captain set to face England in the second group game on November 25.

Kai Havertz

Havertz has been selected in the Germany squad looking to win the country’s record-equaling fifth World Cup title, with the forward having netted an impressive 10 goals in his 30 appearances to date for the Germans.

Havertz will be hoping to shine in Qatar (Picture: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Conor Gallagher

Gallagher was a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England squad – the midfielder only earnt the first of his four caps in November 2021 during the 10-0 win over San Marino.

Mason Mount

There was no such surprise over Mount’s inclusion on the final list, with the academy graduate consistently one of the first names on the team sheet during the Southgate tenure.

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Raheem Sterling

Sterling is just one game shy of appearance number 80 for the Three Lions and his performance in the Middle East will go a long way to determining if the team can win their first major trophy since 1966.

Sterling will be a key member of the Three Lions squad (Picture: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Matteo Kovacic

Kovacic has been one of Chelsea’s best performers this term, but fans will be hoping he does not aggravate the injury which has troubled him at times this season while away with Croatia.

Cesar Azpilicueta

The 33 year-old is in the twilight of his illustrious Chelsea career, and despite age appearing to catch up with the fan favourite at times this year, boss Luis Enrique has included the fullback in his Spain squad for Qatar.

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Kalidou Koulibaly

Koulibaly will lead Senegal as captain in Qatar having guided them to Africa Cup of Nations success earlier this year after beating Egypt on penalties in the final.

Edouard Mendy

Mendy may have fallen behind Kepa in the Stamford Bridge pecking order but he very much remains number one for Senegal between the sticks, having made his debut for the African champions back in 2018.

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Members of the squad will be jetting off to Qatar.