FIFA Sets June 2 Deadline For 2026 World Cup Squad Submissions

In a major procedural announcement for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, world football’s governing body has officially laid out the timeline and regulations for team squad submissions.

All 48 nations set to compete in the historic tournament—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—must finalize and submit their player rosters by June 2, 2026, the same day FIFA will publish the official lists for public viewing.

While national football associations are permitted to unveil their squads ahead of the deadline, FIFA clarified that no roster will be considered official until it receives formal approval from the governing body.

This ensures uniformity and compliance with eligibility and registration rules across all participating teams.

Continuity from 2022 Format
FIFA confirmed that the squad structure used in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will carry over to the 2026 edition.

Each nation may register up to 26 players for the tournament, maintaining the expanded roster size that proved successful in the previous championship. However, the process leading to that final selection involves two distinct phases.

The registration process opens with a provisional stage, during which each country must submit an internal list containing a minimum of 35 players and a maximum of 55. Importantly, this preliminary roster must include at least four goalkeepers.

FIFA has stipulated that these provisional lists will remain strictly confidential and will not be made public before May 11, 2026. This allows teams to privately evaluate a broad pool of talent without media scrutiny or premature speculation.

Following the confidential provisional phase, teams are required to submit their final squads of between 23 and 26 players.

Every final roster must include a minimum of three goalkeepers. The deadline for this final submission is June 2, after which no changes are permitted except under specific, tightly controlled circumstances.

FIFA has outlined clear rules for replacing players after the June 2 cutoff. For outfield players, substitutions are allowed only in cases of serious injury or illness.

Any replacement must be made no later than 24 hours before the nation’s opening match of the tournament. This window ensures that opposing teams and tournament organizers have adequate notice of roster changes.

Goalkeepers are subject to a more flexible rule: a goalkeeper may be replaced at any point during the competition if a medical assessment confirms serious injury or illness.

This exception acknowledges the specialised nature of the position and the limited number of goalkeepers available on each squad.

FIFA emphasised that every player selected for any national team squad must hold the nationality of the country they intend to represent and must remain eligible under the rules of the respective member association. This reiterates longstanding eligibility criteria designed to prevent disputes over player caps and national representation.

The 2026 World Cup marks a historic expansion from 32 to 48 teams, making it the largest edition of the tournament ever held. Matches will be played across 16 host cities spanning three North American nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The new squad submission timeline ensures that all 48 participating nations—from group-stage hopefuls to title contenders—operate under a standardised and transparent registration process.