Record 1,248 players registered for historic 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised to be the most expansive in history, with a record 1,248 players set to compete across 48 national teams. The tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, will see unprecedented global participation.

FIFA has released the final lists of qualified players, revealing a significant generational diversity. Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days, will be the oldest participant, while Mexico's Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, is the youngest. The rosters include 22 players under 20 years old and seven players in their 40s.

This edition marks a historic milestone for several football legends. Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will each be participating in their sixth World Cup, an unprecedented achievement in the competition's annals. The expansion to 48 teams also welcomes four nations making their World Cup debut: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, reflecting FIFA's commitment to broader international representation.

The global reach of football is further highlighted by the 449 clubs worldwide represented by the selected players from 71 different countries. While some nations, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, primarily field players from their domestic leagues, others such as Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Uruguay rely heavily on expatriate talent. Additionally, Ghana's coach Carlos Queiroz will be making his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance as a manager, a feat matched only by Bora Milutinović.