Assembling the final squad for the FIFA World Cup is always a challenging task. Coaches and their staff work tirelessly for weeks and months leading up to the tournament, selecting the most suitable group of players to help their team perform at the highest level.
For the 2026 World Cup, each team will be permitted to register 26 players, matching the format used in Qatar 2022. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of squad rules:
FIFA has scheduled the official announcement of the 26-player squads for all 48 participating nations on Tuesday, June 2. Regarding squad sizes, associations first submit a preliminary list of 35 to 55 players, which must include four goalkeepers. This provisional roster is for internal use only and will not be published by FIFA. For the final tournament, associations may submit between 23 and 26 players, with a minimum of three goalkeepers.
In terms of replacements, if a player on the final list suffers a serious injury or illness, they can be replaced from the provisional list up to 24 hours before their team's first match. Goalkeepers on the final list may be replaced from the provisional list at any time during the tournament due to injury or illness. National teams may announce their squads at any time, but the lists are not officially valid until confirmed by FIFA on June 2.
