The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
The Federation of International Football Associations on Tuesday confirmed that 1,248 players representing 48 nations will feature at the 2026 World Cup.
Among them, 891 players will make their tournament debuts while 357 are returning to the global stage.
The figures were contained in FIFA’s published final squad lists ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026, across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
According to FIFA, the expanded 48-team format marks a historic milestone in the competition’s evolution, with unprecedented global representation across 104 matches.
“The final squad lists for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ have been published by FIFA, representing one of the tournament’s most exciting milestones with just nine days to go until kick-off.
“With 48 teams and 1,248 players made available to take to the pitch across 104 matches in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this edition represents a watershed moment for the global game, opening the door to more nations, players and their fans than ever before,” the statement read.
FIFA said the figures highlight both continuity and renewal in world football, with 357 players returning after previous World Cup squad involvement.
“The confirmed squad lists underline the scale and enduring appeal of the tournament with 357 players returning after at least one previous FIFA World Cup squad inclusion. Some 891 players are set to experience the competition for the first time, highlighting both continuity and renewal across the global game,” it added.
The world football governing body noted that the tournament would feature players across a wide generational span, with 22 players under the age of 20 and seven players aged 40 and above expected to participate.
It also confirmed that 22 former FIFA World Cup winners are included in the squads, while global stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa are set for record sixth World Cup appearances.
“The generational breadth is equally striking, with over 25 years separating the oldest player (Scotland’s Craig Gordon at 43 years and 162 days old) from the youngest (Mexico’s Gilberto Mora at 17 years and 240 days old),” FIFA said.
It also highlighted the debut participation of four nations—Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan—describing their qualification as a reflection of the expanded tournament format.
Uzbekistan’s first appearance was particularly noted, with rising talents such as Abdukodir Khusanov among those expected to feature.
FIFA further disclosed that 449 clubs from 71 countries are represented in the tournament squads, underscoring the global spread of professional football talent.
“The squad lists also highlight contrasting national profiles, ranging from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, whose teams are built almost entirely from domestically based players (25 out of 26 in both cases) to others, such as Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Senegal and Uruguay, that draw their entire squads from overseas leagues,” the statement noted.
The global body added that coaches such as Ghana’s Otto Addo are among those leading their nations into the tournament, which it described as a celebration of “excellence, diversity and global unity through football.”
According to FIFA, squad adjustments will only be permitted in line with tournament regulations, with replacements allowed strictly due to serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, subject to FIFA approval.
