Football’s global governing body, FIFA, has confirmed that all 48 nations participating in the 2026 World Cup must submit their final 23-player squads by May 30th.
This decision marks a return to the traditional squad size, moving away from the expanded 26-player rosters permitted for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The move means national team managers will face tough decisions in finalising their selections. Once the lists are submitted, only those 23 players will be eligible to feature in the competition, which kicks off in June.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be a landmark event, being the first to be jointly staged by three nations and the first to feature 48 teams.
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