FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Squads

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially begun — and with it, one of football’s most dramatic annual rituals: the squad announcement. With 48 nations competing across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, over 1,000 footballers are now in the mix to represent their countries on the biggest stage in world football.

Here is your FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Squads up-to-date guide to every preliminary squad, key announcement dates, the biggest names included, the biggest shocks omitted, and the injury stories that could reshape the tournament before a ball is kicked.

Some national teams have already announced their Final squads for the FIFA World Cup 2026, but only a few have revealed their preliminary squads. Here’s a look at all the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary squads so far –

The Rules: How the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Squads Work

Before diving into the squads themselves, it’s important to understand how the new squad process works — because 2026 has some notable differences from previous tournaments.

Three Key Deadlines

FIFA has set three key deadlines for squad submissions. By May 11, every team must submit a preliminary list of between 35 and 55 players, including five goalkeepers. By May 25, clubs must release all called-up players to their national teams. Between May 25 and June 1, teams submit their final lists of 23 to 26 players, including three goalkeepers.

The preliminary list serves as the official pool of eligible players for the entire tournament. If any injury occurs before or during the competition, a replacement must come from this list — making smart preliminary selection a strategic decision, not just a formality.

One Important Rule on Replacements

If a called-up player suffers serious illness or injury, teams may replace them up to 24 hours before their first match in the tournament. This window has become increasingly important as the cluster of late-season injuries across Europe’s top leagues has hit several squads hard.

Are Preliminary Squads Made Public?

The provisional release lists are not made public by FIFA. However, national associations are permitted to announce their own preliminary squads whenever they choose. Several major nations have already done so, and the remainder are expected to announce throughout May.

Squad Announcement Dates: Full Calendar

Here is when every major nation is expected to confirm their squad:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina — May 11 ✅ (confirmed)
• Sweden — May 12 ✅ (confirmed)
• Qatar — May 12 ✅ (confirmed)
• Uzbekistan — May 5 ✅ (confirmed)
• Ivory Coast — May 15 ✅ (confirmed)
• Japan — May 15 ✅ (confirmed)
• Tunisia — May 15 ✅ (confirmed)
• Belgium — May 15 ✅ (confirmed)
• South Korea — May 16 ✅ (confirmed)
• Brazil — May 18 ✅ (confirmed)
• Austria — May 18 ✅ (confirmed)
• Portugal — May 19 ✅ (confirmed)
• Switzerland — May 20
• Germany — May 21
• Morocco — May 21
• England — May 22
• Netherlands — May 25
• USA — May 26
• Colombia — May 29
• Egypt — May 29
• Australia — June 1
• Mexico — June 1

FIFA officially confirms all squads on June 2, just ten days before the opening match.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: The First Confirmed Squad

Bosnia and Herzegovina became the first nation in the world to confirm their final 26-man squad, doing so on May 11 — the same day as the preliminary squad deadline. The headline inclusion is 40-year-old Edin Dzeko, the former Manchester City striker.

If selected and fielded, Dzeko would join Roger Milla (Cameroon, 1994) as the only outfield players in their 40s to appear at a World Cup.

Bosnia are appearing at just their second World Cup in history, having beaten Wales in the playoffs to qualify. They face Canada in their Group L opener on June 12 in Toronto.

Bosnia Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Coach: Sergej Barbarez

• Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli), Martin Zlomislić (Rijeka), Osman Hadžikić (Slaven Belupo)
• Defenders: Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta), Dennis Hadžikadunić (Sampdoria), Amar Dedić (Benfica), Nikola Katić (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemović (Sassuolo), Nihad Mujakić (Gaziantep), Stjepan Radeljić (Rijeka), Nidal Čelik (Lens)
• Midfielders: Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City), Benjamin Tahirović (Brøndby), Armin Gigović (Young Boys), Dženis Burnić (Karlsruher SC), Ivan Bašić (Astana), Esmir Bajraktarević (PSV), Amar Memić (Viktoria Plzeň), Ivan Šunjić (Pafos), Kerim Alajbegović (Red Bull Salzburg), Ermin Mahmić (Slovan Liberec)
• Forwards: Edin Džeko (Schalke 04), Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart), Samed Baždar (Jagiellonia Białystok), Haris Tabaković (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jovo Lukić (Universitatea Cluj)

Sweden Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Sweden revealed their final squad on May 12.

• Coach: Graham Potter

• Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK), Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County)
• Defenders: Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa, captain), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Emil Holm (Juventus), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Eric Smith (FC St. Pauli), Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF)
• Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Jesper Karlström (Udinese), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), Besfort Zeneli (Union Saint-Gilloise)
• Forwards: Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal), Ken Sema (Pafos), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Taha Ali (Malmö FF)

Qatar Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

On May 12, Qatar revealed their preliminary 34-man squad.

• Coach:  Julen Lopetegui

• Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd), Salah Zakaria (Al-Duhail), Mahmud Abunada (Al-Rayyan), Shehab Ellethy (Al-Shahaniya)
• Defenders: Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd), Pedro Miguel (Al-Sadd), Tarek Salman (Al-Sadd), Bassam Al-Rawi (Al-Duhail), Homam Ahmed (Cultural Leonesa), Lucas Mendes (Al-Wakrah), Sultan Al-Brake (Al-Duhail), Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain (Al-Arabi), Ayoub Al-Oui (Al-Gharafa), Issa Laye (Al-Arabi), Niall Mason (Qatar SC), Rayyan Al-Ali (Al-Gharafa)
• Midfielders: Abdulaziz Hatem (Al-Rayyan), Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail), Assim Madibo (Al-Wakrah), Mohammed Waad (Al-Shamal), Ahmed Fathy (Al-Arabi), Jassem Gaber (Al-Rayyan), Mohamed Al-Mannai (Al-Shamal), Tahsin Jamshid (Al-Duhail)
• Forwards: Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd, captain), Sebastián Soria (Qatar SC), Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), Mohammed Muntari (Al-Gharafa), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al-Rayyan), Yusuf Abdurisag (Al-Wakrah), Edmilson Junior (Al-Duhail), Ahmed Al-Ganehi (Al-Gharafa), Mubarak Shanan (Al-Duhail)

Brazil 55-man preliminary squad

• Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahçe), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Weverton (Grêmio), John (Nottingham Forest)
• Defenders: Thiago Silva (Porto), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Danilo Luiz (Flamengo), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Fabrício Bruno (Cruzeiro), Wesley (Roma), Roger Ibañez (Al-Ahli), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan), Alexsandro (Lille), Paulo Henrique (Vasco da Gama), Léo Ortiz (Flamengo), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Vitinho (Botafogo), Kaiki (Cruzeiro), Luciano Juba (Bahia), Vitor Reis (Girona)
• Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United, vice-captain), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gerson (Cruzeiro), Andreas Pereira (Palmeiras), João Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Éderson (Atalanta), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray), Matheus Pereira (Cruzeiro)
• Forwards: Neymar Jr (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Antony (Betis), Endrick (Lyon), Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), João Pedro (Chelsea), Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest), Pedro (Flamengo), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Samuel Lino (Flamengo), Rayan (Bournemouth)

->> Here is Brazil’s Final 2026 World Cup Squad of 28 Men

Argentina: Messi’s Last Stand

Without question, the most anticipated preliminary squad announcement of the entire pre-tournament period is Argentina’s.

Lionel Messi — eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, 38 years old — was named among the 55 players in Argentina’s preliminary squad. He has yet to fully confirm his availability, but his inclusion strongly signals participation in what would be his sixth World Cup.

Messi holds the record for the most World Cup appearances of any male player (26), and is just three goals shy of the record World Cup goal tally of 16. Argentina’s forward line also features Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), and Claudio Echeverri (Girona).

The squad notably omits six 2022 World Cup winners, including Ángel Di María and Franco Armani — both of whom have retired from international football — while Paulo Dybala, Papu Gómez, Ángel Correa, and Juan Foyth were left out due to a combination of injuries and declining form.

Argentina face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in Group J, opening against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City.

Argentina Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

On May 11, Argentina revealed a preliminary squad of 55 players.

• Coach: Lionel Scaloni

• Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid), Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace), Facundo Cambeses (Racing), Santiago Beltrán (River Plate)
• Defenders: Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Acuña (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Lucas Martínez Quarta (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Agustín Giay (Palmeiras), Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise), Gabriel Rojas (Racing), Nicolás Capaldo (Hamburger SV), Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), Zaid Romero (Getafe)
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Guido Rodríguez (Valencia), Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Nicolás Domínguez (Nottingham Forest), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg), Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa), Máximo Perrone (Como), Aníbal Moreno (River Plate), Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors), Equi Fernández (Bayer Leverkusen), Alan Varela (Porto)
• Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martínez (Internazionale), Julián Alvarez (Atlético Madrid), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Tomás Aranda (Boca Juniors), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Claudio Echeverri (Girona), Mateo Pellegrino (Parma), Matías Soulé (Roma)

Uzbekistan Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Coach: Fabio Cannavaro

• Goalkeepers: Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor), Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf), Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi), Vladimir Nazarov (Pakhtakor)
• Defenders: Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal), Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi), Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor), Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf), Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf), Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldoshev (Neftchi), Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba Al Fujairah), Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon), Mukhammadkodir Khamraliev (Pakhtakor), Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand), Mukhammadrasul Abdumazhidov (Pakhtakor), Diyor Ortikboev (Khorazm), Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK)
• Midfielders: Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor), Oston Urunov (Persepolis), Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi), Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor), Abbosbek Fayzullaev (İstanbul Başakşehir), Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor), Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh), Azizbek Amonov (Buxoro), Kuvondik Ruziev (Neftchi), Ruslanbek Jiyanov (Navbahor), Alisher Odilov (Neftchi), Khusayin Norchaev (Navbahor), Jasurbek Jaloliddinov (Sogdiana), Umarali Rakhmonaliev (Sabah), Nodirbek Abdurazzokov (AGMK), Sardorbek Bakhromov (Nasaf), Sherzod Esanov (Buxoro)
• Forwards: Eldor Shomurodov (İstanbul Başakşehir, captain), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis), Sherzod Temirov (Erbil)

Paraguay Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Captain: Gustavo Gómez
• Coach:  Gustavo Alfaro

• Goalkeepers: Gatito Fernández (Cerro Porteño), Carlos Coronel (São Paulo), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Santiago Rojas (Nacional), Juan Espínola (Barracas Central), Gastón Olveira (Olimpia)
• Defenders: Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), Fabián Balbuena (Grêmio), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Juan Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow), Blas Riveros (Cerro Porteño), Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño), Alan Benítez (Libertad), Agustín Sández (Rosario Central), Mateo Gamarra (Cruzeiro), Saúl Salcedo (Newell’s Old Boys), José Canale (Lanús), Diego León (Manchester United), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Alcides Benítez (Belgrano), Ronaldo Dejesús (Lanús), Alan Núñez (Nacional)
• Midfielders: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Mathías Villasanti (Grêmio), Kaku (Al Ain), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras), Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Damián Bobadilla (São Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United), Robert Piris Da Motta (Cerro Porteño), Álvaro Campuzano (Libertad), Diego González (Atlas), Hugo Cuenca (Burgos), Maurício Magalhães (Palmeiras), Lucas Romero (Universidad de Chile), Enso González (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rubén Lezcano (Olimpia)
• Forwards: Óscar Romero (Huracán), Ángel Romero (Boca Juniors), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente), Carlos González (Independiente del Valle), Álex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Adam Bareiro (Boca Juniors), Lorenzo Melgarejo (Libertad), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Ronaldo Martínez (Talleres), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth), Robert Morales (UNAM), Adrián Alcaraz (Olimpia), Rodney Redes (LDU Quito)

Türkiye Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Captain: Hakan Çalhanoğlu
• Coach:  Vincenzo Montella

• Goalkeepers: Uğurcan Çakır (Galatasaray), Mert Günok (Fenerbahçe), Altay Bayındır (Manchester United), Ersin Destanoğlu (Beşiktaş), Muhammed Şengezer (İstanbul Başakşehir)
• Defenders: Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Zeki Çelik (Roma), Çağlar Söyüncü (Fenerbahçe), Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe), Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ozan Kabak (TSG Hoffenheim), Abdülkerim Bardakcı (Galatasaray), Eren Elmalı (Galatasaray), Samet Akaydin (Çaykur Rizespor), Yusuf Akçiçek (Al-Hilal), Mustafa Eskihellaç (Trabzonspor), Ahmetcan Kaplan (NEC)
• Midfielders: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan, captain), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kökçü (Beşiktaş), İsmail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund), Atakan Karazor (VfB Stuttgart), Demir Ege Tıknaz (Braga)
• Forwards: Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe), İrfan Can Kahveci (Kasımpaşa), Barış Alper Yılmaz (Galatasaray), Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Kenan Yıldız (Juventus), Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray), Oğuz Aydın (Fenerbahçe), Deniz Gül (Porto), Yusuf Sarı (İstanbul Başakşehir), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Aral Şimşir (Midtjylland)

Iran Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Captain: Alireza Jahanbakhsh
• Coach: Amir Ghalenoei

• Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Mohammad Khalife (Aluminium Arak)
• Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan), Danial Eiri (Malavan)
• Midfielders: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Omid Noorafkan (Sepahan), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Amirmohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Hadi Habibinejad (Chadormalou)
• Forwards: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Kasra Taheri (Paykan), Amirhossein Mahmoudi (Persepolis), Dennis Eckert (Standard Liège)

Jordan Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Captain: Ihsan Haddad
• Coach:  Jamal Sellami

• Goalkeepers: Yazeed Abulaila (Al-Hussein), Nour Bani Attiah (Al-Faisaly), Abdallah Al-Fakhouri (Al-Wehdat), Ahmad Al-Juaidi (Shabab Al-Ordon)
• Defenders: Salim Obaid (Al-Hussein), Ihsan Haddad (Al-Hussein, captain), Abdallah Nasib (Al-Zawraa), Yazan Al-Arab (FC Seoul), Saed Al-Rosan (Al-Hussein), Anas Badawi (Al-Faisaly), Ahmad Assaf (Al-Hussein), Husam Abu Dahab (Al-Faisaly), Mo Abualnadi (Selangor)
• Midfielders: Mohammad Al-Dawoud (Al-Wehdat), Rajaei Ayed (Al-Hussein), Mohammad Abu Hashish (Al-Karma), Noor Al-Rawabdeh (Selangor), Nizar Al-Rashdan (Qatar SC), Ibrahim Sadeh (Al-Karma), Amer Jamous (Al-Zawraa), Mohannad Abu Taha (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Yousef Qashi (Al-Hussein), Mohammad Taha (Al-Hussein)
• Forwards: Mahmoud Al-Mardi (Al-Hussein), Musa Al-Taamari (Rennes), Mohammad Abu Zrayq (Raja Casablanca), Ali Olwan (Al-Sailiya), Ali Azaizeh (Al-Shabab), Odeh Al-Fakhouri (Pyramids), Ibrahim Sabra (Lokomotiva Zagreb)

Colombia Full Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Captain: James Rodríguez
• Coach:  Néstor Lorenzo

• Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Atlético Nacional), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Álvaro Montero (Vélez Sarsfield), Kevin Mier (Cruz Azul), Andrés Mosquera (Independiente Santa Fe), Aldair Quintana (Independiente del Valle)
• Defenders: Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray), Santiago Arias (Independiente), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace), Johan Mojica (Mallorca), Jhon Lucumí (Bologna), Carlos Cuesta (Vasco da Gama), Deiver Machado (Nantes), Cristian Borja (América), Yerson Mosquera (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Álvaro Angulo (UNAM), Juan Cabal (Juventus), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Andrés Román (Atlético Nacional), Junior Hernández (Deportes Tolima), Édier Ocampo (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jhohan Romaña (San Lorenzo)
• Midfielders: James Rodríguez (Minnesota United FC, captain), Juan Cuadrado (Pisa), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Wilmar Barrios (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate), Jhon Arias (Palmeiras), Richard Ríos (Benfica), Kevin Castaño (River Plate), Jorge Carrascal (Flamengo), Yáser Asprilla (Galatasaray), Jaminton Campaz (Rosario Central), Juan Portilla (Athletico Paranaense), Gustavo Puerta (Racing Santander), Sebastián Gómez (Coritiba), Jordan Barrera (Botafogo), Nelson Deossa (Real Betis), Juan Manuel Rengifo (Atlético Nacional), Johan Rojas (Vasco da Gama), Jhon Solís (Birmingham City)
• Forwards: Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich), Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional), Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar), Jhon Durán (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Luis Suárez (Sporting CP), Cucho Hernández (Real Betis), Andrés Gómez (Vasco da Gama), Sebastián Villa (Independiente Rivadavia), Johan Carbonero (Internacional), Stiven Mendoza (Athletico Paranaense), Edwuin Cetré (Estudiantes), Néiser Villarreal (Cruzeiro), Kevin Viveros (Athletico Paranaense)

The Injury Crisis: Stars Who Will Miss the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup has been shaped — even before it begins — by a brutal run of injuries to some of the sport’s biggest names. Here is the full picture of confirmed absences and major doubts.

Confirmed Absentees

Hugo Ekitike (France) ruptured his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in April, leaving the Liverpool striker out of the tournament and potentially for the start of next season. France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed: “Unfortunately, the severity of his injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup.”

Rodrygo (Brazil) suffered a torn ACL and right meniscus in Real Madrid’s loss to Getafe in March, ending his World Cup hopes. He had been Brazil’s second-top scorer during qualifying with three goals.

Éder Militão (Brazil) suffered a hamstring injury against Alavés on April 22 that required surgery, ruling him out of the tournament. Serge Gnabry (Germany) injured his adductor in training and will also not be present.

Xavi Simons (Netherlands) tore an ACL in Tottenham’s Premier League win against Wolves in late April. While he was not a guaranteed starter, the injury strengthens Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders’ grip on the Dutch playmaking role.

Racing Against Time

Kylian Mbappé (France) has been managing a hamstring injury, but France’s star is expected to be fit. Lamine Yamal (Spain) tore his hamstring in late April but is making strong progress in recovery and is widely expected to be ready for Spain’s opening match.

Alphonso Davies (Canada) is a major doubt after suffering a new injury against PSG in the Champions League semifinal. Bayern Munich confirmed he will miss “several weeks” — a worrying timeline given Canada’s first match is June 12. Davies has made just six Bundesliga starts all season due to a cruciate ligament tear, illness, and a partial hamstring tear earlier in the campaign.

Luka Modrić (Croatia) suffered a broken cheekbone on April 26 against Juventus but has had surgery and is expected to be fit for the World Cup.

Key Stories From Other Squads

England — Tuchel Names His 26 on May 22

Thomas Tuchel is set to name his 26-man England squad on May 22. England are drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Panama, and Ghana — a group many are calling a mini “Group of Death.” Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden are all expected to feature, with the question marks surrounding fitness cases including those from Tottenham’s turbulent end to the season.

Spain — Yamal Expected to Start His First World Cup

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is expected to be part of Spain’s squad and appear at his first World Cup. Spain are co-favourites at +500. However, Nico Williams has emerged as a major doubt after suffering a muscular injury on May 10, while Mikel Merino (Arsenal) has been sidelined since January with a fractured foot and needs further assessment.

Portugal — Ronaldo’s Last World Cup?

Portugal announce their squad on May 19. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is expected to be included as Portugal targets a first-ever World Cup title. Group K sees Portugal face Colombia, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo — a relatively open group. Ronaldo becoming the first player to appear at six World Cups (having matched that record in Qatar) would make him a joint-record holder with Messi in terms of appearances.

First-Time Qualifiers: New Faces at the World Cup

The expanded 48-team format means several nations appear at the World Cup for the very first time in 2026. Uzbekistan and Jordan are among the notable first-time entrants, offering fans a chance to discover rising footballing nations on the global stage. These debut squads will bring new players into the world’s spotlight — the tournament’s great tradition of producing unknown stars continues.

How to Follow the Remaining Squad Announcements

With most major squads still to be confirmed, the next two weeks will deliver a daily drip of breaking news, surprise selections, and heartbreaking omissions. Here’s what to watch for:

• May 15–16: Belgium, Ivory Coast, Japan, Tunisia, South Korea
• May 18–22: Brazil, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Morocco, England
• May 25–26: Netherlands, USA
• June 1–2: Mexico, Australia + FIFA official confirmation of all 48 squads

Every squad announcement brings potential shocks — a veteran left out, a youngster making the cut against expectations, an injury scare creating a late change.

Major Squads at a Glance

A World Cup Full of Drama Before Kickoff

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the most compelling tournament in decades — and squad selection has already delivered its share of blockbuster stories. Messi at 38, walking out one final time at a World Cup. Ronaldo at 41. Edin Dzeko at 40.

A generation-defining talent like Lamine Yamal is racing to prove his fitness. An injury list that has already stripped Brazil and France of key weapons.

Over 1,000 footballers will represent their nations at this year’s World Cup, the most in the tournament’s history. And with squads still being announced daily through to June 2, every morning between now and the opening kick brings the possibility of another headline.