The wait is nearly over. The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 in North America, and for the first time, 48 teams will be competing instead of the usual 32. That means more nations, more players, and more stories than any World Cup that has come before it.
Over 1,000 footballers are representing their nations at this global tournament, with each team naming up to 26 players, including three goalkeepers. The final squad deadline for all teams was June 2, 2026, ten days before the opening match.
Some squads were confirmed weeks in advance. Others went down to the wire. A few are still subject to last-minute injury changes. This article brings together every confirmed roster — group by group, team by team — with the key names to know and the stories worth following.
Tournament Snapshot
| Total Teams | 48 |
| Players per Squad | 23–26 (incl. 3 GKs) |
| Final Squad Deadline | June 2, 2026 |
| Tournament Opens | June 11, 2026 |
| Grand Final | July 19, 2026 |
| Host Nations | USA, Canada, Mexico |
Each team submits a provisional list of between 35 and 55 players to FIFA by May 11, 2026, one month before the opening match. This list is not made public. The final squad of between 23 and 26 players is then submitted by June 1. If a player gets injured before their team’s first game, they can be replaced — but only from the provisional list, and only up to 24 hours before kick-off. Now, let’s get into the squads.
GROUP A — Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Mexico
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Mexico is the co-host and will be playing their 18th World Cup — a record for a CONMEBOL/CONCACAF nation. The spotlight falls on veteran striker Raúl Jiménez and defensive anchor Edson Álvarez.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Alex Padilla (Athletic Club), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Carlos Moreno (Pachuca), Antonio Rodríguez (Tijuana), Raúl Rangel (Chivas) |
| Defenders | Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Johan Vásquez (Genoa), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK), Julián Araujo (Celtic), Bryan González (Chivas) |
| Midfielders | Alexis Gutiérrez (América), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul) |
| Forwards | Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan), César Huerta (Anderlecht), Germán Berterame (Inter Miami) |
Note: Mexico’s final 26-man squad is pending confirmation.
South Korea
Coach: Hong Myung-bo
South Korea’s squad is built around their captain and talisman, Heung-min Son, who now plays in MLS with Los Angeles FC.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Kim Seung-Gyu, Jo Hyeon-woo, Song Bum-keun |
| Defenders | Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Jens Castrop (Borussia M’gladbach), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima) |
| Midfielders | Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Lee Kang-in (PSG), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk) |
| Forwards | Son Heung-min (LAFC), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Beşiktaş) |
GROUP B — Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Canada
Coach: Jesse Marsch
Canada’s first World Cup since 1986 (in 2022) was a breakthrough moment. This time, they arrive with experience and a genuine squad depth. Key names include Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.
🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Coach: Sergej Barbarez
Bosnia and Herzegovina were the first team to announce their full squad on May 11, 2026.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo) |
| Defenders | Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens) |
| Midfielders | Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven) |
| Forwards | Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia M’gladbach), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj) |
Qatar
Coach: Julen Lopetegui
Switzerland
Coach: Murat Yakin
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Marvin Keller (Young Boys) |
| Defenders | Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Nico Elvedi (Borussia M’gladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eray Comert (Valencia), Luca Jaquez (VfB Stuttgart), Miro Muheim (Hamburg) |
| Midfielders | Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Djibril Sow (Sevilla), Ruben Vargas (Sevilla), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys) |
| Forwards | Breel Embolo (Stade Rennais), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Noah Okafor (Leeds), Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Düsseldorf) |
GROUP C — Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Brazil
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his 26-man Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 18. The most successful nation in World Cup history comes in loaded — with Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Neymar, and young star Endrick all in the mix.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahçe), Weverton (Grêmio) |
| Defenders | Marquinhos (PSG), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Roger Ibañez (Al Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Wesley (Roma), Danilo (Flamengo), Alex Sandro, Douglas Santos |
| Midfielders | Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá, Bruno Guimarães, Fabinho, Danilo Santos |
| Forwards | Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Igor Thiago, Rayan |
Key story: Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first coach to manage at a World Cup with a non-European nation, and he arrives with perhaps the most talented attacking lineup in the entire tournament.
Scotland
Coach: Steve Clarke
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers) |
| Defenders | Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), John Souttar (Rangers) |
| Midfielders | Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour, Ben Doak (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lee Furlong |
| Forwards | Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland, Stuart Armstrong |
GROUP D — USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
USA
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
The United States’ final squad was announced on May 26. Playing at home, pressure has never been higher for the USMNT. All eyes will be on Christian Pulisic, who captains the side.
Australia
Coach: Tony Popovic
The Socceroos qualified after a strong campaign and will be hoping their European-based stars — including several Premier League players — can make an impact.
GROUP E — Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Germany
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Germany’s final squad announcement was set for May 21. Nagelsmann has built something exciting around the young core of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz — and the country is dreaming of a World Cup on their comeback story.
Key players: Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Toni Kroos (retired — not included), Antonio Rüdiger, Manuel Neuer.
GROUP F — Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Coach: Ronald Koeman
The Dutch have a brilliant generation right now. Virgil van Dijk anchors the defence while Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen, and Xavi Simons offer variety up front.
GROUP G — Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Belgium
Coach: Hugo Broos
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Strasbourg) |
| Defenders | Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt) |
| Midfielders | Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Hans Vanaken |
| Forwards | Romelu Lukaku, Lois Openda, Dodi Lukebakio, Johan Bakayoko |
Key story: Kevin De Bruyne, now at Napoli, may be playing his last World Cup. At 34, this is the final chance for Belgium’s golden generation to deliver.
GROUP H — Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Spain
Coach: Luis de la Fuente
Reigning European champions Spain arrive as one of the genuine favourites. Young star Lamine Yamal is 18 and already world-class. Pedri, Rodri, and Dani Olmo control midfield.
Key players: Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Álvaro Morata, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Balde.
GROUP I — France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
France
Coach: Didier Deschamps
France announced their official 26-man squad on May 14, led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. France goes into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the top-ranked nation in the world.
Deschamps confirmed that this World Cup will be his last as France manager, as he will not extend his contract beyond 2026.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes), Robin Risser (Lens) |
| Defenders | William Saliba (Arsenal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) |
| Midfielders | N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG), Manu Koné |
| Forwards | Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Rayan Cherki, Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Maghnes Akliouche |
Key story: Kylian Mbappé captains the side at his third World Cup, and with 12 goals already in tournaments, he is within striking distance of Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals.
Notable absence: Eduardo Camavinga was left out. Deschamps explained: “He had a difficult season where he played less.” He also had injuries.”
GROUP J — Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Argentina
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Defending champions Argentina submitted an extended 55-man preliminary panel on May 11, with the final 26-man roster pending confirmation. Lionel Messi is set to lead Argentina on what is expected to be his final international campaign.
| Position | Players (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani, Geronimo Rulli |
| Defenders | Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lisandro Martínez (Man United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Marcos Acuña, Nicolás Tagliafico |
| Midfielders | Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Leandro Paredes, Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), Claudio Echeverri (Man City) |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Ángel Di María |
Lionel Messi, 38, was listed in Argentina’s preliminary squad but had yet to confirm his participation, having previously suggested he wouldn’t play in another World Cup.
Austria
Coach: Ralf Rangnick
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Alexander Schlager, Florian Wiegele, Patrick Pentz |
| Defenders | David Alaba, Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Affengruber, Phillipp Mwene, Alexander Prass, Marco Friedl, Michael Svoboda |
| Midfielders | Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, Christoph Baumgartner, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romano Schmid, Florian Grillitsch, Patrick Wimmer, Paul Wanner, Alessandro Schopf |
| Forwards | Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch, Sasa Kalajdzic |
GROUP K — Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Portugal
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, becomes the first player to appear in six World Cups, arriving in remarkable form after scoring 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League this season. He holds world records of 226 international caps and 143 international goals.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho |
| Defenders | Rúben Dias (Man City), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Man United), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Nélson Semedo, Pepe, Gonçalo Inácio, Danilo Pereira |
| Midfielders | Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Bernardo Silva (Man City), Vitinha (PSG), Rúben Neves, João Palhinha, Otávio |
| Forwards | Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG), Francisco Conceição, João Félix |
Colombia
Coach: Néstor Lorenzo
Colombia qualified strongly and boasts an impressive squad built around James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz (Liverpool).
GROUP L — England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
England
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel named his 26-man squad on May 22, 2026, with Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka confirmed, while notable absentees include Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Man City) |
| Defenders | Reece James (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Man City), John Stones (Man City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Man City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham) |
| Midfielders | Declan Rice (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo (Man United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) |
| Forwards | Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Noni Madueke (Arsenal) |
Key story: Ivan Toney earned a recall despite having played just a handful of games in the Saudi Pro League, while big names like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Harry Maguire were all left out — with Maguire publicly saying he was “shocked and gutted.”
Croatia
Coach: Zlatko Dalić
Luka Modrić, 40, is one of the oldest players at the tournament and is widely expected to be playing his final major international tournament.
The Biggest Storylines Heading Into the Tournament
Messi’s farewell? Argentina arrives as defending world champions with Lionel Messi still leading the attack. His participation had been uncertain, but he was included in the preliminary squad. If he goes, this is almost certainly his last World Cup.
Ronaldo’s record sixth World Cup. No player in history has ever appeared at six World Cups before. Ronaldo arrives at 41, still scoring freely in Saudi Arabia, and he’s just 3 goals away from a genuinely historic target in the competition.
Mbappé chasing history. Kylian Mbappé leads the world’s top-ranked nation at just 27. With 12 World Cup goals already and Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 in his sights, France’s captain is one of the defining stories of the entire tournament.
England’s big omissions. Tuchel’s decision to leave out Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer caused genuine shock at home. Tuchel explained his thinking around trust, culture, and who had delivered — but England fans will want results before they fully buy in.
Brazil’s Ancelotti experiment. Carlo Ancelotti taking the Brazil job was the biggest coaching story of the build-up. He has assembled what many consider the most talented squad in the tournament on paper — but turning talent into trophies has been Brazil’s challenge for over two decades.
Full Squad Summary: All 12 Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia |
| B | Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| D | USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye |
| E | Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia |
| G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay |
| I | France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway |
| J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia |
| L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama |
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadiums — Full List of All Venues Across USA, Canada & Mexico
Are You Ready?
As per FIFA, squad lists are not considered official until confirmed on June 2, 2026. Some teams had their rosters locked in weeks ago. Others are still finalising. There will be last-minute injuries. There will be surprise call-ups. That’s the nature of the World Cup.
But one thing is certain — 48 teams, over 1,200 players, three host nations, and one trophy. Every squad on this list has something to play for. Some want history. Some want redemption. And a few, like Messi and Ronaldo, want one last shot at immortality. The tournament begins June 11. Don’t miss it.