When do national teams announce their 2026 World Cup squads?

FIFA sets two deadlines: on May 11, 2026 federations submit a preliminary list of 35–55 players (not made public by FIFA), and on June 1, 2026 they deliver the final 23–26 player squad. Most teams announce both in a press conference on the day they submit them or in the days before.

How many players does each nation take to the 2026 World Cup?

Between 23 and 26 players, with 3 mandatory goalkeepers. It is the same format used at Qatar 2022. At earlier World Cups up to 2018, the cap was 23 players.

When will Spain announce its 2026 World Cup squad?

The RFEF traditionally reveals its preliminary list in a press conference at Las Rozas in early May. The exact date is not yet confirmed, but it is expected between May 5 and May 11, 2026, ahead of the FIFA deadline. The final squad will be known between May 25 and June 1.

What happens if a player gets injured after being called up?

Up to 24 hours before a team's first match, FIFA allows replacing him if the team doctor and a FIFA medical officer certify the injury. Once the first match is played, no substitutions are allowed: the team finishes the tournament with the remaining fit players.

Why is the squad 26 players instead of 23 like before?

FIFA raised the cap to 26 at Qatar 2022 as an exception due to the pandemic and the proximity to the European season. For 2026 it stays the same: with 48 teams and a more demanding calendar (extra Round of 32), more rotation makes sense.

Can the squad be changed between June 1 and June 11?

Yes, but only for confirmed injury or illness. Each change requires a certificate from the team doctor validated by the FIFA medical officer. No free substitutions are allowed.

How many goalkeepers must each team bring?

Three goalkeepers are mandatory within the 23–26 range. A team taking 26 will have 3 keepers and 23 outfield players. A team taking 23 will have 3 keepers and 20 outfield players.

When are squad numbers (shirt numbers) announced?

Together with the final June 1 squad. FIFA requires each player to wear a fixed number 1 to 26 throughout the tournament, and most federations reveal them the same day as the official announcement.

2026 World Cup squads: preliminary list May 11, final May 26 / June 1

May 11, 2026

Preliminary list (release list)

Each federation submits to FIFA a list of 35 to 55 players. It is internal — FIFA does NOT publish it. National-team coaches usually announce their public preliminary call-up in a press conference in the days before.

June 1, 2026

Final squad

Deadline to submit the final squad to FIFA: between 23 and 26 players, with 3 mandatory goalkeepers. Most federations publish this list the same day they submit it.

June 11, 2026

Opening match · Estadio Azteca

Mexico vs South Africa opens the tournament. From then on, injury replacements are only allowed up to 24 hours before a team's FIRST match, certified by the team doctor and a FIFA medical officer.

Squad size

26 players per nation

Between 23 and 26 players per squad, with a mandatory minimum of 3 goalkeepers. It is the same cap first used in Qatar 2022. Until Russia 2018, national teams could bring a maximum of 23 players. The expansion was introduced during the pandemic to allow more rotation, and FIFA keeps it for 2026 with a longer, more demanding tournament (the new Round of 32 adds an extra match).

World Cup	Squad cap	Note
1982	22	—
1998	22	—
2002	23	—
2006	23	—
2010	23	—
2014	23	—
2018	23	—
2022	26	Pandemic: FIFA raised the cap to 26 in Qatar.
2026	26	Cap kept at 26 for the 48-team tournament.

Replacements

Injury replacement rules

Allowed

Before the first match

Up to 24 hours before a team's first match, FIFA allows replacing a called-up player due to injury or illness. The team doctor certifies the case and a FIFA medical officer validates it. It happens at every World Cup: a late training-camp setback at Bayern, Real Madrid or Manchester drops a player out and the backup from the preliminary list comes in.

Forbidden

Once the tournament begins

Once a team has played its first match, FIFA does NOT allow substitutions. Even if a player gets injured on matchday 1, the team finishes the tournament with the remaining fit players. That was Italy with Cabrini in 1990, Argentina with Caniggia and many others: once you are in the squad, you stay until the end.

All 48 squads

Status by nation

Click any nation to see the full 26-player list, coach, captain and first match.

FinalProvisionalPending

48 official0 provisional0 pending· Last updated 2 jun 2026

Latest squad news

Squad announcements

Frequently asked questions

Most asked

When do national teams announce their 2026 World Cup squads?
FIFA sets two deadlines: on May 11, 2026 federations submit a preliminary list of 35–55 players (not made public by FIFA), and on June 1, 2026 they deliver the final 23–26 player squad. Most teams announce both in a press conference on the day they submit them or in the days before.
How many players does each nation take to the 2026 World Cup?
Between 23 and 26 players, with 3 mandatory goalkeepers. It is the same format used at Qatar 2022. At earlier World Cups up to 2018, the cap was 23 players.
When will Spain announce its 2026 World Cup squad?
The RFEF traditionally reveals its preliminary list in a press conference at Las Rozas in early May. The exact date is not yet confirmed, but it is expected between May 5 and May 11, 2026, ahead of the FIFA deadline. The final squad will be known between May 25 and June 1.
What happens if a player gets injured after being called up?
Up to 24 hours before a team's first match, FIFA allows replacing him if the team doctor and a FIFA medical officer certify the injury. Once the first match is played, no substitutions are allowed: the team finishes the tournament with the remaining fit players.
Why is the squad 26 players instead of 23 like before?
FIFA raised the cap to 26 at Qatar 2022 as an exception due to the pandemic and the proximity to the European season. For 2026 it stays the same: with 48 teams and a more demanding calendar (extra Round of 32), more rotation makes sense.
Can the squad be changed between June 1 and June 11?
Yes, but only for confirmed injury or illness. Each change requires a certificate from the team doctor validated by the FIFA medical officer. No free substitutions are allowed.
How many goalkeepers must each team bring?
Three goalkeepers are mandatory within the 23–26 range. A team taking 26 will have 3 keepers and 23 outfield players. A team taking 23 will have 3 keepers and 20 outfield players.
When are squad numbers (shirt numbers) announced?
Together with the final June 1 squad. FIFA requires each player to wear a fixed number 1 to 26 throughout the tournament, and most federations reveal them the same day as the official announcement.

Source: "Regulations, FIFA World Cup 26" (PDF, March 19, 2026) · Wikipedia "2026 FIFA World Cup squads". Last verified: April 2026.