FIFA Confirms 1,248 Players From 48 Nations For World Cup

FIFA has confirmed that a record 1,248 players from 48 countries will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the largest player pool in the tournament’s history.

The figure reflects the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, with each participating nation allowed to register a squad of up to 26 players.

The enlarged format means the tournament will feature 1,248 footballers, surpassing all previous editions.

The 2026 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will also be the biggest edition of the competition in terms of participating nations and matches.

For the first time, 48 teams will compete across 104 matches, up from 64 matches in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Final squad lists were submitted to FIFA on June 1 after national associations initially provided provisional rosters ranging from 35 to 55 players.

Teams were then required to trim their selections to a maximum of 26 players for the finals.

The expanded tournament has opened the door for several nations to make their World Cup debuts, the media reported.

Among the first-time participants are Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curacao and Cape Verde, highlighting FIFA’s push to broaden representation on football’s biggest stage.

Several global stars are set to feature in what could be their final World Cup appearances. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have all been named in their respective national squads, while Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is poised to become the first Mexican player to appear at six World Cups.

The tournament will begin on June 11 and conclude with the final on July 19. Matches will be played across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time three countries have jointly staged the men’s World Cup.

FIFA has described the 2026 edition as the most expansive World Cup ever organised, with the increased number of teams and players expected to provide broader global representation and new opportunities for emerging football nations.

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