Chelsea fans will have to wait until Monday afternoon to see their players kick off in Qatar, firstly with Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling with England against Iran. Later that day, Edouard Mendy, Christian Pulisic and Ethan Ampadu will begin their campaigns for Senegal, USA and Wales, respectively.
Given the Blues' disappointing start to the season, a fresh change of environment can hopefully give several underperforming players the chance to regain some confidence and form ahead of the return to west London after Christmas.
With 15 players either currently in the squad or on loan at other clubs in Qatar, football.london takes a look at the Chelsea names who need a big tournament.
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Christian Pulisic
The USA winger will be relied upon by his nation to offer the inspiration to get out of Group B - which also includes England - where he will likely be up against club peers in Mount and Sterling.
His current situation at Stamford Bridge remains complicated despite showing good signs on the pitch in recent appearances. Remaining on the fringes at club level is in complete contrast to his place on the international stage, where he is a guaranteed starter.
It is hard to know if Pulisic's long-term future remains at Chelsea given his struggles to cement a starting spot recently, but this World Cup offers a chance to showcase his talent and hopefully return to England with more admiration. There is the real threat of a star-turning display against England next Friday, which could provide some revenge for the criticism he has received.
Kai Havertz
The illusive forward remains a mystery at Chelsea. Flirting between moments of genius and flattering to deceive, we enter the World Cup again unsure of what role is best suited for Havertz at Chelsea.
For Hansi Flick and Germany, Havertz looks a lot more decisive, scoring two at Wembley in an entertaining 3-3 draw with England in October. This also comes off a good performance at EURO 2020 with his nation where he was one of Germany's standout figures in a disappointing tournament.
Havertz needs to show consistency once he returns to Chelsea but based on his general form for Germany, he is a fun watch and can prove the difference between sides.
Kalidou Koulibaly
The Senegal defender will be hoping to remind people of his defensive quality in Qatar after struggling to adapt to life at Chelsea. The £35m switch from Napoli back in July has not gone smoothly with him looking a little rash and unable to assert himself in the Premier League as of yet, casting doubt on the transfer.
With his Chelsea peer Edouard Mendy behind him, Koulibaly will be aiming to help Senegal qualify from Group A against Qatar, Ecuador and The Netherlands.
Hakim Ziyech
A stunning solo effort from the halfway line against Georgia on Thursday showcased Hakim Ziyech's known craft after returning to the national squad for the first time in over a year.
Ziyech had infamously fallen out with previous Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic and appeared to end his World Cup hopes until the Bosnian was sacked in August. His replacement, Walid Regragui, has quickly reintegrated Ziyech into his plans and brought the 29-year-old out of international retirement.
Ziyech has become a forgotten figure at Chelsea, only making nine appearances so far this season for a grand total of 271 minutes of action. His departure looks inevitable in January but his flair for the extraordinary makes him a wildcard at the World Cup, while an impressive tournament for him in Qatar could see his transfer value increase dramatically.
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