[wordads]
David GOMBE
The final squad lists for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have been published by FIFA for the expanded FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
With 48 teams and 1,248 players made available to take to the pitch across 104 matches in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this edition represents a watershed moment for the global game, opening the door to more nations, players and their fans than ever before.
The confirmed squad lists underline the scale and enduring appeal of the tournament with 357 players returning after at least one previous FIFA World Cup™ squad inclusion. Some 891 players are set to experience the competition for the first time, highlighting both continuity and renewal across the global game.
The confirmed lists reflect the global nature of modern football, with 449 different clubs from 71 countries represented (14 from the AFC region, six from CAF, seven from Concacaf, eight from CONMEBOL, one from the OFC, and 35 from UEFA). The squad lists also highlight contrasting national profiles, ranging from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, whose teams are built almost entirely from domestically based players (25 out of 26 in both cases) to others, such as Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Senegal and Uruguay, that draw their entire squads from overseas leagues.
They may not have won the English Premier League but Manchester City’s players are the most in demand on the international stage, with a record 19 representing 12 different countries in the coming weeks.
The champions of Germany, England, France and Spain have the most players at the World Cup after that, with Arsenal providing 16 players for 10 different nations.
Serie A winners Inter Milan have just seven players at the tournament, largely due to Italy’s absence.
When it comes to those masterminding the squad lists, Ghana’s Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz is coaching at his fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup, having previously led Portugal in 2010 and IR Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He is only the second coach to appear at five straight tournaments, after Bora Milutinović (1986–2002).
The confirmed squad lists embody what makes the tournament truly unique — a celebration of excellence, diversity and global unity through football.
The full squad lists submitted by the 48 Participating Member Associations on Monday, 1 June, are available on FIFA.com. In line with the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 26, replacements are permitted only due to serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before the kick‑off of a team’s first match, unless otherwise approved by FIFA.