World Cup 2026: FIFA Gives Deadline To Participating Countries

World Cup 2026: FIFA Gives Deadline To Participating Countries

Sampson Adedeji

World football governing body FIFA has announced May 30 as the deadline for all qualified national teams to submit their final squad lists for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to the directive, each participating country must register a final squad of 26 players for the tournament, maintaining the same squad size used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The decision ensures continuity in team selection policy after the 26-man squad format was first expanded for the 2022 tournament, allowing teams to better manage injuries, suspensions, and fixture congestion during the competition.,

National team coaches are therefore expected to finalize their provisional selections ahead of the deadline before submitting the official list to FIFA. Once the final squads are confirmed, only players included on the submitted list will be eligible to participate in the global tournament.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be historic as it will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will also feature an expanded format with 48 teams competing for football’s most prestigious prize.