Bottom line: All 48 teams must submit their preliminary squads to FIFA on May 11, 2026, and confirm their final 26-player rosters by June 1. FIFA publishes the official squad lists on June 2, nine days before the tournament opens in Mexico City on June 11.
This is your live tracker for FIFA World Cup 2026 squads. Bookmark this page. Come back to find which squads are public, which deadlines are next, and which players have been ruled out.
The 2026 tournament is the first 48-team World Cup. That means 1,248 players will be registered in total, up from 832 at Qatar 2022, and more than any World Cup in history. FIFA kept the cap at 26 players per squad despite federation requests for 30, so coaches face tighter selection calls than ever.
World Cup 2026 Squad Deadlines at a Glance
Here are the three dates that matter for every team.
| Stage | Deadline | Squad Size | Goalkeepers Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary list | May 11, 2026 | 35 to 55 players | At least 4 |
| Final squad | June 1, 2026 | 23 to 26 players | At least 3 |
| FIFA official reveal | June 2, 2026 | Confirmed by FIFA | — |
The preliminary list stays private. FIFA does not publish it. Many federations announce their own version publicly, but the official document is internal.
The final squad is what counts. Teams can announce earlier than June 1, but their lists are only official once FIFA confirms them on June 2.
Players named in the final 26 must be released by their clubs by May 25. The only exceptions are players in the UEFA Champions League final (May 30), Europa Conference League final (May 28), or CONCACAF Champions Cup final (May 30). Those clubs get to keep their players until the day after their final.
When Will Each Team Announce Its FIFA World Cup 2026 Squad?
Each of the 48 FIFA World Cup 2026 federations announces its final 26-man squad between May 11 and June 1, 2026. The table below shows the confirmed reveal date for every team, with direct links to the full roster once announced.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, DR Congo, and Argentina were among the first to act on May 11, the FIFA preliminary deadline. Sweden follows on May 12, France on May 13, and the United States closes the window on May 26.
| Team | Group | Announcement Date | Status | Final Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | B | May 11, 2026 | Announced | Bosnia Squad |
| DR Congo | K | May 18, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Sweden | F | May 12, 2026 | Announced | Sweden Squad |
| France | I | May 14, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| New Zealand | G | May 14, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Ivory Coast | E | May 15, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Japan | F | May 15, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Tunisia | F | May 15, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| South Korea | A | May 16, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Brazil | C | May 18, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Croatia | L | May 18, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Portugal | K | May 19, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Germany | E | May 21, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Morocco | C | May 21, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Norway | I | May 21, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| England | L | May 22, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Netherlands | F | May 25, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| USA | D | May 26, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Egypt | G | May 29, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
| Australia | D | June 1, 2026 | Date confirmed | — |
Click any “Announced” team in the Squad column to see its full 26-man roster with manager, club affiliations, and group fixtures. Argentina announced a 55-man preliminary squad on May 11 but has not yet confirmed a final-squad reveal date. Uzbekistan released its 40-man preliminary list on May 5. The remaining federations, including Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, are expected to reveal their final 26 between May 25 and June 1. We add a squad link as soon as each federation makes its 26 official.
Squad Replacement Rules: When Can Teams Swap Players?
The June 1 deadline is firm, but FIFA allows changes in two cases.
Injury or illness before the first match. A player can be replaced up to 24 hours before the team’s opening match. The replacement must come from the preliminary list. The team doctor and FIFA’s General Medical Officer must both confirm the injury is serious enough to prevent the player from competing.
Goalkeeper injury during the tournament. Goalkeepers get special treatment. If a goalkeeper picks up a serious injury at any point during the tournament, the team can call up a replacement from the preliminary list. This rule applies right through the final.
Replacement players take the jersey number of the player they replace. If a new goalkeeper joins after numbers 1 to 26 are already assigned, the next available number, like 27, is used.
Confirmed Injuries Already Ruling Out Players
Several stars have already been ruled out of World Cup 2026 through pre-tournament injuries. The list keeps growing as the final club fixtures play out.
| Player | Team | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Rodrygo | Brazil | ACL |
| Eder Militao | Brazil | Hamstring tendon surgery |
| Raphinha | Brazil | Hamstring |
| Juan Foyth | Argentina | Achilles |
| Luis Malagón | Mexico | Achilles |
| Takumi Minamino | Japan | ACL |
| Mohammed Salisu | Ghana | ACL |
| Samu Aghehowa | Spain | ACL |
For the full match list, see the World Cup 2026 schedule. For group breakdowns, head to the Groups page. For your printable wall chart, grab the World Cup 2026 wall chart.
FAQ About World Cup 2026 Squads
What is the squad size for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Each of the 48 teams can register a final squad of 23 to 26 players, including at least 3 goalkeepers. The preliminary list is larger, with 35 to 55 players and at least 4 goalkeepers.
When is the World Cup 2026 squad deadline?
The preliminary list deadline is May 11, 2026. The final 26-player squad deadline is June 1, 2026. FIFA publishes all 48 official lists on June 2.
Can teams change their squads after June 1?
Yes, but only for serious injury or illness. Outfield players can be replaced up to 24 hours before the team’s first match. Goalkeepers can be replaced at any point during the tournament. All replacements must come from the preliminary list.
Why is the squad size 26 and not 30?
FIFA confirmed in December 2025 that the 26-player cap from Qatar 2022 stays in place for 2026. Several federations asked for 30 players because of the expanded 48-team format, but FIFA declined
Are preliminary squad lists public?
No. FIFA keeps the preliminary lists internal. Most federations release their own version, which is why you see “55-man preliminary squad” headlines around May 11. The official FIFA document is not published.
Who was the first team to announce its final squad for World Cup 2026?
Bosnia & Herzegovina and DR Congo were among the first to confirm final-squad announcements on May 11, 2026, the preliminary deadline day. Sweden follows on May 12, France on May 13, and New Zealand on May 14.
When does each player have to be released by his club?
Clubs must release all called-up players by May 25, 2026. Players involved in the UEFA Champions League final (May 30), Europa Conference League final (May 28), or CONCACAF Champions Cup final (May 30) can stay with their clubs through their respective final dates.
Where can I see the official 48-team squad lists?
FIFA publishes the official lists on June 2, 2026, one day after the final deadline. We update this page with each federation’s announcement as it lands.
Last updated: May 11, 2026 — preliminary squad deadline day.