World Cup 2026: which teams have already confirmed their 26-man squads | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup is beginning to take its final shape. Just weeks before kickoff in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, excitement is building as squads are assembled. This edition will mark a milestone in FIFA history: it will be the first to feature 48 participating teams and expanded rosters of up to 26 players.

With the clock ticking toward the June 1 deadline set by the international governing body, several federations have already sped up the process and officially announced their key players.

Among the contenders that have already chosen their weapons, France shook up the international transfer market with a squad led by Kylian Mbappé, but with the notable absences of Antoine Griezmann and Randal Kolo Muani. The list also included players in excellent form in Europe such as Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, and Rayan Cherki.

As for Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Neymar’s star return after nearly two years of inactivity, while Portugal will once again have Cristiano Ronaldo as its standard-bearer, as he prepares to play in his sixth World Cup.

A complete overhaul came from Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente, who turned everything upside down by presenting a squad with no Real Madrid players for the first time in its history. On the other side, Thomas Tuchel caused surprise in charge of England by leaving out established Premier League stars such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Meanwhile, Germany sparked debate with the return of legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the age of 40.

In South America, Néstor Lorenzo officially announced Colombia’s call-ups, banking on the experience and leadership of James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz for the debut against Uzbekistan. In Europe, Ronald Koeman took a gamble with the Netherlands by including key players such as Memphis Depay and Jurriën Timber despite ongoing physical issues.

The tournament will also come alive with historic returns after decades away: Scotland is back after 28 years with goalkeeper Craig Gordon (43 years old) in its squad, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo returns after 52 years of waiting. Meanwhile, the modest island of Curaçao will make its first-ever appearance under the guidance of the experienced Dick Advocaat.

Unlike the nations that have already finalized their delegations, the Argentina national team is taking its time. Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff is currently working from an extended preliminary list of around 55 players, assessing the physical condition of the world champions before making the final cut to defend the crown.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.