FIFA sets 26-player squad limit for expanded 2026 World Cup

FIFA has officially set the squad limit at a maximum of 26 players per team for the expanded 48-nation 2026 World Cup, requiring all participating federations to submit their final lists by May 30, 2026.

The rule keeps the same squad size used in Qatar 2022, where the limit was temporarily raised from the traditional 23 to help manage player workload.

Each squad must include at least three goalkeepers, with flexibility in the other positions. Once submitted, changes are restricted to serious injury cases and require FIFA approval.

Teams will also be permitted to name up to nine additional players for pre-tournament training camps.

The May 30 deadline falls shortly after the end of most domestic seasons, with clubs required to release international players by May 25 (or May 30 for those involved in continental club finals).

This gives coaches a final window to assess form and fitness before locking in their rosters for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The fixed 26-player cap forces tough selection decisions, particularly for nations with deep talent pools, while providing extra depth compared to pre-2022 tournaments.

With less than three months until kickoff, national teams now enter the decisive phase of squad planning for the largest World Cup in history.