Clubs with the most number of players at the FIFA U17 World Cup

The FIFA U-17 World Cup is almost upon us, and as we countdown to India's biggest footballing event, all 24 participating teams have submitted their final 21-man squads. A total of 504 players will be part of the World Cup, apart from over 150 members combined of the teams' respective support staff.

Those 504 players will represent 24 nations from six FIFA confederations and will fight for what is the biggest prize in U-17 level football from 6th to 28th October. From New Caledonia to Niger, football clubs have sent players en masse to India but only a few clubs can claim to have major representations.

While the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich - world-beating clubs at senior level - don't have a great number of players at the U-17 World Cup, Real Madrid and Chelsea barely edge them ahead as the big European clubs with the most players at next month's FIFA U-17 World Cup. Turkey's Galatasaray leads the way in Europe overall.

In the India squad, AIFF Academy alone has 16 players, but that is a different matter altogether since Indian players don't have clubs as such and are generally selected from a central pool of players under the Academy who don't play competitive games on a seasonal basis. Similar is the case with Korea DPR's Pyongyang International Football School that has eight players in the national team squad.

Not counting the AIFF Academy and Pyongyang International Football School, let's take a look at the five clubs with the most number of players at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017:

#5 Barcelona, Manchester City, Olympique Lyon, RB Leipzig, Alajuelense, Nigelec, Universidad Catolica, Colo-Colo - 4 players

Spain's captain Abel Ruiz is one to watch

Barcelona, Manchester City, Lyon and RB Leipzig as Europe's top tier clubs find themselves in unfamiliar company, rubbing shoulders with Chile's Universidad Catolica and Colo-Colo, Costa Rica's Alajuelense and all the way to Niger's Nigelec. All eight clubs have supplied four players each to various teams at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Spain's captain and hottest prospect Abel Ruiz is Barcelona's star man, while England's Phil Foden and Lyon's Amine Gouiri are the players to watch.

#4 Real Madrid, Chelsea, Club Cerro Porteno, Onehunga Sports FC, AS Mont-Dore, Al Talaba SC, Saipa Alborz FC - 5 players

Moha Moukhliss is already a target of big clubs

From England and Spain to New Caledonia and Iraq, these seven clubs have supplied five players each to various nations playing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. While Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno is not the only club from the country with so many representatives at the U-17 World Cup, Real Madrid, Chelsea, New Zealand's Onehunga Sports, New Caledonia's Mont-Dore, Iraq's Al Talaba and Iran's Saipa Alborz are their respective countries' top representatives.

From Marc Guehi to George McEachran, Chelsea has five players in the England squad, while Real Madrid's hot prospect Mohamed Moukhliss is among the five Blancos in Spain's 21-man contingent.

#3 Chivas Guadalajara, Club Olimpia, Deportivo Saprissa - 6 players

Chicharito is a Chivas Guadalajara product

Mexican giant Chivas is the top dog in its land and has as many as six players playing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Joining the club from Guadalajara are Paraguay's Club America and Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa. Both clubs from the Americas are remembered for their displays at senior level in the intercontinental competitions. The little-known Christian Bolanos became a cult hero owing to his Club World Cup displays for Saprissa, while Olimpia's upstarts went on to play the 2002 Intercontinental Cup final which it lost to Real Madrid.

All three clubs have storied past and it is well within expectations that they rank among the clubs with the most number of players at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

#2 Galatasaray - 7 players

Ozan Kabak is Turkey's defensive mainstay

Turkey's finest, Galatasaray has sent seven players to India to represent the U-17 national team. However, Turkey's key players like Malik Karaahmet, Berk Cetin and Umut Gunes have already moved on from the inward-looking Turkish league to their favourite destination - Germany. Galatasaray's seven-man contingent include Emirhan Civelik, Melih Gokcimen, Ozan Kabak, Atalay Babacan, Recep Gul, Yunus Akgun, Abdussamed Karnucu.

Out of the seven, Gala's Ozan Kabak is highly regarded at the club and is also among the players to watch in India.

#1 Ryomyong SC - 11

Ryomyong SC will dominate Korea DPR's lineups at the World Cup

Korea DPR's Ryomyong SC has as many as 11 players who will play at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. All of them will be representing Korea DPR, of course! With limited data available on Korea DPR football and Korea DPR as a whole, it will be a surprise how the team fares at the World Cup. With 11 players from the same club, there is a readymade chemistry for head coach Yong Su Kim and he has a lot to thank Ryomyong for.

Ryomyong is a domestic force and finished runner-up in Korea DPR's Hwaeppul Cup last month, hence its youth teams can also be considered among the finest in the country