The Black Cats have two players who will be going to the tournament in Qatar, after Bailey Wright and Jewison Bennette were called up by Australia and Costa Rica respectively.
And there will also be some familiar faces at the competition, with several former Sunderland players set to be involved.
England's opening match will come against Iran at Wembley on Monday, November 20, before Gareth Southgate’s side face USA and Wales in Group B.
Here are nine former Sunderland players who have been called up by their nations:
5. Bryan Oviedo - Costa Rica
Three years after leaving Sunderland, the 32-year-old now plays for American side Real Salt Lake. Oviedo remains Costa Rica’s first-choice left-back and will come up against Spain and Germany in Group E. Sunderland’s teenage prospect Jewison Bennette is also part of the Costa Rica squad. Photo: Hector Vivas
6. Simon Mignolet - Belgium
Following his departure from Liverpool in 2019, the 34-year-old has made over 100 appearances for Belgian side Club Brugge. In Qatar Mignolet will once again be Belgium’s back-up goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois. Photo: BRUNO FAHY
7. Wahbi Khazri - Tunisia
Khazri was seen as Tunisia’s star player at the last World Cup and remains one of their key players four years later. The 31-year-old moved from St-Etienne to Montpellier in the summer and could play as a central striker for Tunisia, who will face France, Australia and Denmark in Group D. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
8. Sebastian Coates - Uruguay
The 32-year-old remains a regular starter at Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, where he is the club’s captain, after joining Primeira Liga from Sunderland in 2017. This will be Coates’ third World Cup with Uruguay, who have been placed in Group H along with Portugal, Ghana and South Korea. Photo: Christian Petersen