Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to play in their sixth World Cup, but even they are not the oldest players in a tournament that has expanded like never before. The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the biggest in history, with 48 teams each bringing a 26-man squad – a total of 1,248 players. All squads were confirmed by 2 June 2026, ahead of the tournament running from 11 June to 19 July.
The 2026 edition marks a major change from previous tournaments. For the first time, 48 nations are competing, up from 32 in 2018 and 2022. Each team now selects 26 players instead of the traditional 23. The expansion was approved by Fifa to increase global participation and generate more revenue. The host nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico – automatically qualified, and the final line-up includes debutants such as Curaçao (the smallest nation ever to qualify), Jordan and Uzbekistan.
“All 48 squads for the 2026 World Cup, expanded to 26 players each, explained.”
Why does this matter for UK readers? England fans will have to follow the tournament without several key players: the BBC reports that Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold are missing the World Cup. However, the Premier League is heavily represented – the Netherlands squad is dominated by Premier League players, and other squads feature familiar faces from English clubs, like Burnley striker Lyle Foster (South Africa) and West Ham’s Tomáš Souček (Czech Republic). The BBC will broadcast Scotland’s first World Cup game since 1998, and all England games will be shown live. The expanded format means more matches and more chances to see stars like Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway) and Vinícius Jr (Brazil).
The squad announcements also highlighted record-breaking selections. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is playing in his sixth World Cup at age 40, alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Bosnia’s Edin Džeko and Croatia’s Luka Modrić are also 40-year-olds in their squads. Germany recalled 40-year-old Manuel Neuer from retirement to be first-choice keeper. Other notable inclusions: Neymar (Brazil), Harry Kane (England, vice-captain named as Arsenal star – possibly Bukayo Saka), and Alphonso Davies (Canada) in what Canada calls its “best ever” squad. Some big names were left out: Luis Suárez (Uruguay), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) and Lamine Yamal (Spain) was included despite injury.
Q: How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup? There are 48 teams, an increase from 32 in previous tournaments. The format includes 16 groups of three, with the top two from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout stage.
Q: Why are squads 26 players instead of 23? Fifa approved the increase to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup as a temporary measure due to the pandemic, and it has been made permanent for 2026. The change gives managers more depth and flexibility during a congested tournament schedule.
Q: Who are the oldest players at the 2026 World Cup? Several players are aged 40 or older, including Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Bosnia’s Edin Džeko, Croatia’s Luka Modrić, and Germany’s Manuel Neuer. Lionel Messi (Argentina) is 39.
The tournament kicks off on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City. All 48 squads are finalised, and fans can look forward to a month of football across 16 host cities in three countries. England’s first match is yet to be announced, but BBC will show Scotland’s opener against an unconfirmed opponent. The final takes place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.