How Many Players Can Each National Team Call up for the 2026 Fifa World Cup?

FIFA has officially confirmed the squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup, putting an end to speculation about a possible expansion of team rosters.

Each national team will be allowed to register a maximum of 26 players for the tournament, maintaining the same format used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Despite earlier discussions about increasing squads to 30 players due to the growing demands of the modern football calendar, FIFA ultimately decided to keep the current structure unchanged.

Squads must include a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 26 players, with at least three goalkeepers required in the final roster. Before submitting the final list, federations must first provide a provisional squad of between 35 and 55 players. Only those included in this preliminary list will be eligible for final selection.

Key deadlines include May 11, 2026, for the provisional squad and May 30, 2026, for the final submission. Injury replacements will be allowed up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, provided the replacement comes from the preliminary list.

Teams will also be allowed to register up to 27 additional technical staff members.

With these rules confirmed, national teams now begin shaping their strategies for a World Cup that will demand precision both on and off the pitch.