World Cup 2026 Squads Locked In as FIFA's June 1 Registration Deadline Passes

The final piece of pre-tournament administration is complete: all 48 nations have submitted their **26-man rosters** to FIFA ahead of the **June 1 registration deadline**, formally locking in the players who will contest the first 48-team World Cup, beginning June 11.

The expanded format means a record number of players are now officially registered for football's showpiece event. Squads of 26 — larger than the traditional 23 — give coaches added flexibility to manage a longer, more demanding tournament played in summer heat across three host nations. The deadline forces final, often agonizing, decisions on fitness gambles and form-versus-experience debates.

Several high-profile names made their squads despite carrying injuries. Canada's **Alphonso Davies** (hamstring) and Brazil's **Neymar** (calf) were both included as their coaches bet on mid-tournament recoveries. Others were not so fortunate: Real Madrid's Rodrygo (ACL), Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Germany's Serge Gnabry (adductor) and Japan's Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) all missed out through injury.

With squads now set, attention turns fully to the pitch. Teams are completing their warm-up fixtures and settling into base camps — the United States edged Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte, while Argentina have arrived in Kansas City to begin their final acclimatization before the opener.

The locking of rosters marks the symbolic start of the tournament proper. From here, there are no more additions — only the drama of the matches themselves. For 48 nations and their supporters, the wait is almost over.