World Cup 2026 squad deadlines: What you need to know

With less than five weeks to go until the FIFA World Cup 2026, fans across the globe are waiting to see which stars will make the final squads for football’s biggest tournament.

The expanded 48-team competition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the hosts face South Africa in the opening match.

FIFA has already set the key deadlines for squad submissions, player releases and final roster announcements ahead of the tournament.

May 11: Provisional squad deadline

All participating nations must submit a preliminary squad list to FIFA by May 11. Teams can name between 35 and 55 players, including at least four goalkeepers.

The provisional list serves as the official player pool for the tournament, meaning any injury replacement before the World Cup begins must come from that group. FIFA will not publish the provisional squads.

Teams may also register up to 75 officials, including coaches, medical staff and team administrators.

May 25: Clubs release players

Clubs are required to release players for international duty by May 25, marking the start of the official World Cup preparation period.

Exceptions apply to players involved in continental finals, including the UEFA Champions League final on May 30, the UEFA Conference League final on May 28 and the CONCACAF Champions Cup final on May 30.

June 1: Final squad submission

National associations must submit their final World Cup squads between May 25 and June 1.

Teams can register between 23 and 26 players, including at least three goalkeepers. The expanded 26-player format, first introduced at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, remains in place to help teams manage injuries and player workload.

Players can only be replaced in cases of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before their team’s first match, and replacements must come from the provisional list.

June 2: Official squad announcement

FIFA will officially confirm and publish the final squads for all 48 teams on June 2.

While countries may announce their squads earlier, they are only considered official after FIFA approval.

Goalkeepers are subject to special rules and may be replaced at any stage of the tournament in the event of serious injury or illness, provided the replacement comes from the provisional squad.

Team arrivals and tournament numbers

Under FIFA regulations, teams must arrive in their designated host country no later than five days before their opening group-stage match.

With each nation allowed up to 26 players, the tournament could feature as many as 1,248 footballers — the largest player pool in World Cup history.