FIFA has confirmed that teams at the 2026 World Cup will be allowed to name up to 26 players in their final squads, keeping the same rule used at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The tournament will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and will feature 48 teams for the first time. That is up from 32 teams, and it means a total of 104 matches will be played.
Teams must first submit a larger preliminary list of 35 to 55 players. This list must include at least four goalkeepers and will not be made public.
The final squad will have at least 23 players and up to 26. At least three must be goalkeepers. The deadline to confirm squads is June 2, 2026. Teams can announce their squads earlier, but they only become official on the deadline.
Rules for changing squads are strict. A player can only be replaced if they suffer a serious injury or illness. The replacement must come from the preliminary list, and the change must be made at least 24 hours before the team’s first match.
Goalkeepers are treated differently. They can be replaced at any time during the tournament if they are seriously injured or ill, as long as medical checks confirm it.
The 26-player squad rule was first brought in during the COVID-19 pandemic and used at the 2022 World Cup. It has now become permanent, as football schedules have become more crowded.
The 2026 tournament will last 39 days. FIFA says the bigger squads help teams manage fatigue, rotate players more easily, and reduce injury risks.
A new Round of 32-stage will also be introduced because of the expanded format. This replaces the old Round of 16 as the first knockout round.
Matches will be played in 16 cities. In the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle. In Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. In Canada: Toronto and Vancouver.
The opening match will take place on June 11 at Estadio Azteca. The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
