World Cup 2026: FIFA confirms final squads as 1,248 players prepare for global showpiece

FIFA has officially published the final squad lists for the FIFA World Cup 2026, confirming the 1,248 players who will represent the 48 participating nations at the expanded tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

With just nine days remaining before kick-off, the release of the squads marks a significant milestone ahead of the biggest FIFA World Cup in history.

The tournament will feature a record 48 teams and 104 matches, offering unprecedented opportunities for players and nations to showcase themselves on football’s grandest stage.

According to FIFA, 357 players have previously been included in World Cup squads, while 891 players will be experiencing the tournament for the first time.

The squad lists reflect both continuity and renewal, blending established stars with emerging talents from across the globe.

Among the headline stories is the return of football icons Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who are all set to make a record-breaking sixth FIFA World Cup appearance.

The tournament will also feature a remarkable age range.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the oldest player in the competition at 43 years and 162 days, while Mexico's Gilberto Mora is the youngest at just 17 years and 240 days.

FIFA revealed that 22 players under the age of 20 and seven players aged 40 or above could feature during the tournament.

The expanded format has opened the door for new nations to make history. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will all participate in the FIFA World Cup for the first time, underlining FIFA's goal of making the competition more representative of global football.

Uzbekistan's maiden qualification is particularly notable, with Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov among the players expected to inspire a new generation back home.

Click here for the squad lists of all 48 participating teams:

https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce281/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf

The global reach of modern football is also reflected in the squads, with players coming from 449 clubs across 71 countries.

While nations such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia rely heavily on domestically based players, countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Uruguay, Cabo Verde, Curaçao and DR Congo have selected squads entirely composed of players based abroad.

From a coaching perspective, Ghana's Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz will achieve a special milestone by managing at his fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup.

Queiroz previously led Portugal at the 2010 tournament and Iran at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions. He becomes only the second coach after Bora Milutinović to appear at five straight World Cups.

FIFA noted that squad replacements will only be permitted in cases of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team's opening match, unless special approval is granted.

The final squad lists encapsulate the diversity, excellence and global appeal of the FIFA World Cup, with players from every corner of the football world preparing to chase the ultimate prize.