The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has confirmed that 1,248 players from 48 countries will compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with 891 of them set to make their debut at football’s biggest tournament.
The final squad lists, released on Tuesday, also showed that 357 players have previously been part of World Cup squads and will return for another appearance on the global stage.
The tournament, scheduled to begin on June 11 across Canada, Mexico and the United States, will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. FIFA said the expanded format will bring together more nations and players than any previous edition, with a total of 104 matches to be played.
“The final squad lists for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ have been published by FIFA, representing one of the tournament’s most exciting milestones with just nine days to go until kick-off.
“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 statement read.
FIFA noted that the player pool reflects both experience and renewal, with hundreds of newcomers joining a group of established internationals who have previously featured at the tournament.
“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,” it added.
The tournament will also feature players from different generations.
FIFA said 22 players under the age of 20 have been selected, while seven players aged 40 and above are also included in the final squads.
Among the experienced names are 22 former World Cup winners, while Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa are in line to make a record sixth appearance at the competition.
“The generational breadth is equally striking, with over 25 years separating the oldest player (Scotland’s Craig Gordon at 43 years and 162 days old) from the youngest (Mexico’s Gilberto Mora at 17 years and 240 days old),” FIFA said.
The expanded tournament has also paved the way for four nations, Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, to make their World Cup debuts.
FIFA further disclosed that players from 449 clubs across 71 countries are represented in the tournament, underlining the global reach of the competition.
“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,” the statement noted.
The governing body added that changes to final squads will only be permitted in cases of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s opening match, subject to FIFA approval.
