World Cup 2026: Record 1248 players registered for historic edition

The FIFA World Cup 2026, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, will host a record 1248 players representing 48 qualified national teams. This historic edition will see 357 players returning after previous World Cup appearances, while 891 will make their debut in the prestigious football competition.

The tournament also showcases significant generational diversity. Scotland's goalkeeper Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days, will be the oldest player, while Mexico's Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, is the youngest. The final lists include 22 players under 20 years old and seven players in their forties.

This edition is particularly historic for several iconic players. Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will each participate in their sixth World Cup, a first in the tournament's annals. The expansion to 48 teams also welcomes four nations making their World Cup debut: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, reflecting FIFA's commitment to increasing global football representation.

The selected squads illustrate the growing globalization of football, with 449 clubs from 71 different countries represented. Some teams, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, primarily feature players from their domestic leagues. Conversely, nations such as Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Uruguay rely heavily on expatriate players. Additionally, Ghana's Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz will attend his fifth consecutive World Cup as a manager, a feat matched only by Bora Milutinović.

FIFA has reminded that definitive squad lists, submitted by June 1, can only be altered due to serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team's first match, adhering to World Cup 2026 regulations. The 23rd edition of the World Cup, the first with 48 teams and 104 matches, is poised to be the largest ever organized in football history.