FIFA releases official squad lists for expanded 2026 World Cup

FIFA has officially published the squad lists for the 2026 World Cup, confirming the 1248 players who will represent the 48 participating nations. This edition, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is set to be the largest in the tournament's history, featuring 104 matches. The final is scheduled to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

For the majority of players, 891 in total, this will be their debut World Cup appearance. Only 357 players have previous experience in the prestigious international competition. Notably, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico are set to participate in their sixth World Cup, setting a new record for any footballer. Additionally, 22 players have prior experience winning the World Cup, largely comprising members of the Argentinian squad that triumphed in Qatar 2022.

The tournament will showcase talent from 449 different clubs across 71 countries, with Manchester City leading the representation by sending 19 players. Some national teams, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, primarily consist of players from their domestic leagues. Conversely, nations like Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Curaçao, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Uruguay are composed entirely of players from foreign leagues.

The age range of participants is significant, with Scotland's goalkeeper Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days, being the oldest player. Mexico's Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, is the youngest. On the coaching side, Ghana's manager Carlos Queiroz will become the second coach to lead a team in five consecutive World Cups, following Bora Milutinović's record. The tournament kicks off next week at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.