When are World Cup Squads Announced?

The opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday 11 June draws ever nearer, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in Group A in the first of 104 matches (20:00 BST). With the tournament getting underway so soon, you may be thinking to yourself - when are World Cup squads announced?

Well, you have come to the right place because we at Betfred Insights have put together this little explainer to provide you with all the information for the upcoming squad declarations.

Let's set the scene; you've been putting together your own 26-man squad for months, making alterations based on form over the past few months. Now you're at the stage where you want to see how many ticks you have next to your squad list.

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I have good news on that front, we are not far away from seeing the final catalogue of players who will be making their way across the Atlantic in just a few weeks' time.

When are the World Cup squads announced?

All 48 competing nations have to submit their 26-man squads by Saturday, 30 May, with FIFA planning on announcing them all Tuesday, 2 June.

However, the countries will first declare a preliminary list that can range from 35-55 players. These lists will be submitted on Monday, 11 May.

What are the squad requirements?

Of the 26 players who make the final cut for each country, at least three of them must be goalkeepers. This leaves 23 outfield spots available for each nation.

Are there any exceptions?

In extreme circumstances, such as an injury or illness, teams will be able to swap out the affected player in the final squad. However, the replacement can only be selected from the options originally named in the preliminary register.

Should one of the three goalkeepers get injured, whether it's before or during the tournament, they can be replaced by another shot-stopper who was named in the preliminary list.

When will players link up with their national teams?

Players must be released by their clubs no later than Monday, 25 May. The only exceptions will be for those competing in the finals of the UEFA competitions - Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub, so keep an eye out for the start of our World Cup coverage.