EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The final line-up of superstars and emerging talents poised to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is taking shape as national teams from around the globe reveal their rosters for the upcoming global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and USA.
Among the icons preparing to showcase their skills in North America are Brazil veteran Neymar, Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, France striker Kylian Mbappe, Norway marksman Erling Haaland and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, among many others.
All squads are provisional until the final list of 26 players is announced by FIFA, following their submission by participating teams, on 2 June.
Austria
National icon David Alaba headlines Austria’s 26-man squad, with fellow veterans Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer also included. Midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka and Paul Wanner, who switched their allegiances from England and Germany respectively this March, have both been included in Ralf Rangnick’s squad.
Belgium
Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel and Romelu Lukaku are all part of Rudi Garcia’s 26-man squad. Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who had never been called up before, will also be travelling to the World Cup.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko, who played for the Dragons in their only previous global finals appearance at Brazil 2014 and turned 40 in March, will return to the World Cup looking to add to his record tally of 73 goals for the nation. Defender Sead Kolasinac is the only other surviving member from the side which headed to South America 12 years ago.
Brazil
The selection of Neymar headlines Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded squad. The 34-year-old Santos man had not been called up by Brazil since 2023, but has consistently expressed his desperation to go to the tournament, despite struggling with hamstring and knee injuries over the last year. Also included are big names such as Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Marquinhos, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Cabo Verde
Coach Bubista’s selection includes some of the country’s most experienced players, such as goalkeeper Vozinha and winger Ryan Mendes. Defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes is also present, as is striker Dailon Livramento, who was decisive in the qualifying campaign.
Congo DR
There are few surprises in the squad, with coach Sebastien Desabre relying on almost all the players who earned their World Cup spot in Mexico. Among the star players in the fold are captain Cedric Bakambu, Chancel Mbemba and Fiston Mayele.
Côte d’Ivoire
Emerse Fae’s squad includes Evan Ndicka, the linchpin of the Ivorian defence, as well as captain Franck Kessie in midfield. Alongside Amad Diallo, who shone during the last Africa Cup of Nations, will be Yan Diomande, one of the revelations of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with RB Leipzig.
Croatia
There are few surprises among the names included in Zlatko Dalic’s roster, with defender Josko Gvardiol ready to make his return following the injury that kept him sidelined for a considerable period. In midfield, Dalic can call upon an abundance of experience: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, and Nikola Vlasic. Meanwhile, Martin Baturina and Petar Sucic represent vital young assets.
Curaçao
After making an unexpected return to the Blue Wave, Dutch tactician Dick Advocaat’s 26-man roster consists of many of the heroes from Curaçao’s successful qualifying campaign. Eloy Room headlines the goalkeepers list, while in defence the likes of Jurien Gaari and Roshon van Eijma give the Blue Wave a physical presence on the back line. Advocaat has a wealth of talent in midfield, including the dynamic brotherly duo of Leandro and Juninho Bacuna.
Czechia
Attacking midfielder Adam Hlozek, who has missed most of the Bundesliga season for Hoffenheim, has sufficiently recovered from calf and foot injuries to be named in Miroslav Koubek’s provisional 29-man roster. Koubek named three newcomers, including 17-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Hugo Sochurek.
Egypt
Hossam Hassan’s preliminary 27-man squad is highlighted by a core group of ever-present stars, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly’s Trezeguet and Nice’s Mohamed Abdelmonem.
England
Thomas Tuchel has largely kept faith with the players who guided the Three Lions through qualification with a 100 per cent record, although strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have earned places in his party as back-up to captain and star striker Harry Kane.
France
Didier Deschamps has selected an all-star squad including Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Desire Doue. Jean-Philippe Mateta returns to the attack, having featured in three qualifiers and scored two goals.
Germany
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been named in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad after originally calling time on his international career after UEFA EURO 2024. He will travel to North America as first-choice keeper for what will be his fifth finals appearance. Also on the list are Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck.
Haiti
The squad features the team’s key players: captain Johny Placide in goal, defensive stalwarts Ricardo Ade and Carlens Arcus, the latter enjoying a fine season in Ligue 1, the midfield duo of Leverton Pierre and Danley Jean Jacques and legendary striker Duckens Nazon.
IR Iran
Amir Ghalenoei’s extended squad is heavy on experience, with star forward Mehdi Taremi one of almost a dozen players to have accrued half a century of caps or more. There was, though, no place for the nation’s third-highest scorer Sardar Azmoun, Belgian-based winger Allahyar Sayyadmanesh or young midfielder Mohammad Javad Hosseinnejad.
Iraq
A preliminary 34-man squad is headlined by midfield string puller Amir Al Ammari, creative winger Ali Jasim and the vastly experienced goal plunderer Aymen Hussein. Captain Jalal Hassan also returns, having missed the team’s FIFA Play-Off Tournament win over Bolivia due to injury. Highly touted winger Montader Madjed misses out.
Japan
Hajime Moriyasu has opted to roll the dice on several players either currently injured or those having just returned, with Wataru Endo, Ko Itakura and Takehiro Tomiyasu all included. There was though no place for arguably the team’s most influential player in the injured Brighton forward Mitoma or Takumi Minamino.
Jordan
Star forward Mousa Al Tamari headlines a preliminary 30-man squad. The Nashama will be missing influential striker Yazan Al Naimat, who suffered a knee injury at last year’s FIFA Arab Cup™, but captain Ehsan Haddad was named having recovered after nearly a year on the sidelines.
Korea Republic
Coach Hong Myungbo has selected a host of experienced names, including record appearance-maker Son Heungmin, Bayern Munich defender Kim Minjae and Mainz’s Lee Jaesung. Lee Kihyuk, whose only cap to date came in 2022, has been recalled following a stellar season for Gangwon.
New Zealand
Chris Wood and Tommy Smith are set to make history as the only New Zealand players to feature at two editions of the FIFA World Cup™. Sixteen years after the nation’s previous appearance at the global finals, captain Wood and defender Smith were among the 26 names revealed by head coach Darren Bazeley.
Norway
Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland and Arsenal midfield wizard Martin Odegaard head up Stale Solbakken’s squad, while joining the hulking Haaland up front will be Atletico Madrid marksman Alexander Sorloth. Standout winger Antonio Nusa and assist machine Julian Ryerson also add punch to the attack.
Portugal
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won 226 caps and scored 143 goals – both records – will head to a sixth tournament at the age of 41. Elsewhere, Roberto Martinez has called upon Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, and Paris Saint-Germain quartet Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Goncalo Ramos and Vitinha. There is, however, no space for Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha, or Benfica defender Antonio Silva.
Qatar
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui has named a 34-strong preliminary squad, which includes potential debutants: 20-year-old left-back Rayyan Al Ali and 29-year-old England-born central defender Niall Mason. The squad is headlined by creative dynamo Akram Afif and prolific goal plunderer Almoez Ali.
Scotland
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, was among the standout picks, with the veteran stopper having been sidelined with injury of late and not seen a minute of action since January. At the other end of the age spectrum, 19-year-old Findlay Curtis – a versatile attacker who has impressed while on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers – makes the cut.
Senegal
Coach Pape Thiaw has selected a host of experienced players in a provisional 28-man squad, including Idrissa Gueye, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy. Premier League stars Habib Diarra, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Ismaila Sarr, Mamadou Sarr, Pape Matar Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye have also been included.
South Africa
Key figures in Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad include inspirational captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, dynamic midfielder Teboho Mokoena and Burnley striker Lyle Foster. Williams and Mokoena are among nine Mamelodi Sundowns players in the selection. Orlando Pirates also boast nine representatives, including exciting forward Oswin Appollis.
Sweden
Graham Potter is able to call upon Liverpool’s Alexander Isak after the forward missed their UEFA play-off matches with a broken leg. He joins an exciting attacking line-up which includes Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga.
Switzerland
Experienced pair Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka, who were both part of the Switzerland side that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009™, have been selected to represent the nation at a fourth senior finals. Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo, Gregor Kobel and Denis Zakaria have also been called up by Murat Yakin.
Tunisia
Sabri Lamouchi has named several new faces from the group that competed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, including players who were not part of the roster for that tournament. Rani Khedira will be making his first official competitive appearance for Tunisia, while Khalil Ayari, Raed Chikhaoui, Rayan Elloumi and Omar Rekik have also been selected.
Türkiye
Vincenzo Montella has selected a 35-man provisional squad packed with attacking talent. Alongside rising stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, the line-up features players such as Kerem Akturkoglu and Baris Alper Yilmaz — both of whom have just completed a strong season in the Super Lig.
All squads are provisional until the final list of 26 players is announced by FIFA, following their submission by participating teams, on 2 June.
Information and Photos Courtesy of FIFA
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