HARTLEPOOL UNITED AT THE WORLD CUP

No player, who at the time played for Hartlepool United, has ever been called up to the FIFA World Cup to represent their country.

However, there have been a few players who have played for the club who have gone on to either play in the competition or have done so in the past.

AARON TSHIBOLA

Hartlepool United's only representative at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is DR Congo's Aaron Tshibola.

The midfielder played for the club back in the 2015/15 season, signing on loan in January from Reading and going on to help the club turn their fortunes around and escape the drop to the National League that campaign.

Tshibola went on to sign for Aston Villa just 14 months later, later playing for a whole host of clubs in various countries around the world.

Despite being born in England, he was called up to represent DR Congo in 2018 and, at the time of writing, has played 16 times, scoring once.

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PETER BEARDSLEY

A player who needs very little introduction, Peter Beardsley, starred for Newcastle United and Liverpool in the first division.

But what some may not know is that he played one season for Hartlepool United in the 1998/99 season, just two years after his last appearance for England.

Beardsley represented the Three Lions at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Pools' only ever England representative at a World Cup.

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DAVID McCREERY

David McCreery was a Northern Irish midfielder who started his career at Manchester United, but played the majority of his club football for Newcastle United in the 80s.

He first joined Pools for a season in the 1991/92 season, playing 30 times for the club, and later went on to act as player/manager in the 1994/95 season.

McCreery played at two World Cups, the 1982 edition in Spain and the 1986 edition in Mexico. The former earned him a place in the All Star Select XI for his quality performances.