FIFA World Cup 2026 · June 11 to July 19
All 48 Official Squads Confirmed
Every player named. Every squad locked. From Messi and Ronaldo at their 6th World Cup to England's most controversial selection in a generation — here is everything you need to know before June 11.
The 2026 World Cup by the Numbers
48
Nations confirmed
1,248
Players named in squads
26
Players per squad
104
Matches across the tournament
3
Host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico)
16
Host cities and venues
With 48 nations competing for the first time in World Cup history, the 2026 tournament is the largest and most complex in FIFA's history. All 26-man final squads were submitted to FIFA by June 1, 2026, ten days before the opening match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. You can browse every confirmed squad on the squads page or read team-by-team analysis in the blog.
8 Stories That Define the 2026 Squads
Forty-eight squads means forty-eight sets of debates, injuries, omissions and surprises. These are the eight narratives that every football fan will be talking about from now until the Final on July 19.
Messi and Ronaldo make history at their 6th World Cup
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have become the first two players in history to appear at six FIFA World Cups. Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa joins them in this feat. Ronaldo, 41, has publicly confirmed this is his final tournament. Messi, 38 and reigning champion, enters as the ultimate storyline: can he add to his 13 World Cup goals, close in on Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16, and bow out as the greatest tournament player who ever lived?
Neymar's emotional comeback and immediate injury scare
Neymar had not played for Brazil since tearing his ACL in October 2023. Carlo Ancelotti selected him anyway in Brazil's 26-man squad, prompting a visibly emotional reaction at the announcement. Then, almost immediately, Neymar suffered a grade 2 calf strain while playing for Santos in May 2026, forcing him out of Brazil's pre-tournament camp. Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar will travel to the tournament and is targeting the group stage. Whether he arrives fit is the most watched fitness story of the first week.
England's most shocking squad in a generation
Thomas Tuchel's England selection has been called the most controversial since 1998. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all absent. Palmer and Foden were dropped for a below-par Premier League season. Trent had not won a cap since last summer. Harry Maguire, who publicly stated he was shocked and gutted, was also axed. In their place: Ivan Toney (now playing in Saudi Arabia) and 21-year-old Jarell Quansah of Bayer Leverkusen. England travel to Group L knowing the squad debate will follow them throughout the tournament.
Brazil face the tournament without Rodrygo
Rodrygo tore his ACL and meniscus in a Real Madrid match against Getafe in early March, ruling him out for the remainder of 2026. He was Brazil's second-top scorer in qualifying. Ancelotti also controversially left out Chelsea's Joao Pedro despite 15 Premier League goals, citing a poor record for the national team. Brazil's attack now centres on Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli and the returning Neymar, with 18-year-old Endrick available from the bench.
Lamine Yamal's race against time
Spain's 18-year-old superstar suffered a serious hamstring injury on April 22 playing for Barcelona, ending his LaLiga season. He told reporters he feared missing the World Cup entirely. Spain named him in their 26-man squad, and coach Luis de la Fuente reported that recovery is proceeding very well. Yamal is expected to be fit for Spain's Group H opener against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. Without him, Spain are still a formidable side. With him, they are among the favourites.
France dealing with an injury crisis on multiple fronts
France arrived at this World Cup managing three simultaneous injury concerns. Kylian Mbappé has a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg and is being monitored closely into the opening matches. William Saliba, expected to start alongside Upamecano in central defence, is described as very doubtful after a back injury. Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon playing for Liverpool against PSG in April and has been officially ruled out, with Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta called up as replacement. France remain one of the tournament favourites despite this cloud.
Messi chasing Klose's all-time World Cup goals record
Messi enters the tournament with 13 World Cup goals, tied for fourth on the all-time list. Miroslav Klose holds the record with 16. With Argentina expected to go deep into the knockout rounds, the question of whether Messi can close the gap has become one of the most compelling individual narratives of the entire tournament. He also holds records for most World Cup appearances (26) and most minutes played (2,314). This tournament could be the final chapter of the greatest individual career in football history.
USMNT under the spotlight of a home World Cup
The United States, co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico, have never advanced past the Round of 16 at a World Cup. Manager Mauricio Pochettino's squad selection sparked debate immediately: Gio Reyna was included despite not starting a club match since December, while Tanner Tessmann, widely expected to make the cut, was omitted. The USMNT open against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The pressure of a home tournament on a squad trying to prove itself on the world stage is immense.
Now that you know the squads — start predicting
All squads are in. Two ways to play: lock your full bracket before June 11, or predict individual match results across all 104 games as the tournament unfolds.
Group by Group: All 12 Groups and Key Squad Stories
Browse the full squad for every team on the groups page. Below is a snapshot of the headline squad story in each of the 12 groups.
The Teams with the Strongest Squads
With all 48 squads confirmed, the football world has reached a consensus on the strongest pools of talent heading into the tournament. These are the eight sides with the most depth on paper and the deepest individual quality across all positions.
You can read full squad breakdowns and individual player profiles for every one of the 48 teams here.
Notable Absences from the 2026 World Cup
Every World Cup has its major omissions — players who would have been expected to feature but will watch the tournament from home. In 2026, the list is particularly striking.
Rodrygo (Brazil)
Tore his ACL and meniscus against Getafe in early March, ruling him out for the remainder of 2026. Brazil's second-top scorer in qualifying.
Phil Foden (England)
Dropped by Tuchel after a below-par Premier League season. One of the most talented English players of his generation, absent from his peak tournament years.
Cole Palmer (England)
Arguably the Premier League's most creative player in 2024 and 2025, omitted for a dip in form in the months leading into the tournament.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
Had not won an England cap since last summer. Tuchel's decision to leave out one of the most technically gifted full-backs in the world shocked supporters.
Hugo Ekitike (France)
Ruptured his Achilles tendon in a Champions League match against PSG in April. Officially ruled out and replaced in France's squad.
Serge Gnabry (Germany)
Ruled out with an adductor injury sustained in the weeks leading into the tournament.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Among the injury absentees for the Dutch squad, a significant blow to their creative options.
Fermín López (Spain)
Ruled out with a fractured metatarsal. The young midfielder had been expected to feature under De la Fuente.
Collect the World Cup 2026 Sticker Album
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How to Explore Every Squad on WorldCup26Hub
All 48 confirmed squads are live on the site. Here is everything available as you prepare your predictions and follow the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
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