2026 World Cup Squad Announcements and Preparations

The 2026 World Cup is approaching quickly, with host nations being the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Teams are busy finalizing their 26-man squads, which will compete in this enormous footballing event. Some countries have already provided finalized names, while others have shared provisional lists.

Confirmed Squads and Players

Key players who have secured their spots include Kylian Mbappe, Alexander Isak, and Chris Wood, representing France, Sweden, and New Zealand, respectively. Some nations, like Argentina, have released provisional squads containing up to 55 players, which will need to be reduced by the June 1 deadline set by FIFA.

Group A

Mexico has not yet announced their squad, while South Korea has declared their final list.

• South Korea
  • Goalkeepers: Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai).
  • Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Jo Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), and others.
  • Midfielders: Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), and others.
  • Forwards: Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), Son Heung-min (LA FC), Cho Kyu-sung (Midtjylland).
• Czech Republic (Provisional)
  • Goalkeepers: Lukas Hornicek (Braga), Matej Kovar (PSV), Jindrich Stanek (Slavia Prague).
  • Defenders: Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim), David Doudera (Slavia Prague), Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague), and others.
  • Midfielders: Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati), Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen), Vladimir Darida (Hradec Kralove), and others.
  • Forwards: Adam Hlozek (Hoffenheim), Tomas Chory (Slavia Prague), Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague), and others.

Group B

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo).
  • Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), and others.
  • Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), and others.
  • Forwards: Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), and others.
• Switzerland
  • Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller (Young Boys), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient).
  • Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Inter), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), and others.
  • Midfielders: Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), and others.
  • Forwards: Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Breel Embolo (Rennes), and others.

Group C

• Brazil
  • Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).
  • Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), and others.
  • Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), and others.
  • Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (Santos), and others.
• Scotland
  • Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
  • Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), and others.
  • Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), and others.
  • Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham City), and others.

Group D

• Turkey (Provisional)
  • Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Ersin Destanoglu (Besiktas), and others.
  • Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Ahmetcan Kaplan (Ajax), and others.
  • Midfielders: Atakan Karazor (VfB Stuttgart), Demir Ege Tiknaz (Braga), and others.
  • Forwards: Aral Simsir (Midtjylland), Arda Guler (Real Madrid), and others.

Group E

• Germany
  • Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart).
  • Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), and others.
  • Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), and others.
  • Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), and others.
• Ivory Coast
  • Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos).
  • Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Beşiktaş), Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre), and others.
  • Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Porto), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), and others.
  • Forwards: Simon Adingra (Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), and others.

Group F

• Sweden
  • Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK Fotboll), Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (Derby County).
  • Defenders: Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), and others.
  • Midfielders: Taha Ali (Malmo FF), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), and others.
  • Forwards: Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), and others.
• Tunisia
  • Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien).
  • Defenders: Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), and others.
  • Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), and others.
  • Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Khalil Ayari (Paris Saint-Germain), and others.

Group G

• Belgium
  • Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Strasbourg, on loan from Chelsea).
  • Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), and others.
  • Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), and others.
  • Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), and others.

Group H

• France
  • Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes).
  • Defenders: Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), and others.
  • Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), and others.
  • Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), and others.

Provisional and Final Preparations

As of now, some teams have chosen to display provisional squads with more selections. These lists will be narrowed down as further analysis and preparation proceed. The concrete line-ups will be declared prior to the FIFA deadline, ensuring that each nation presents a strong team.

The world eagerly awaits the start of matches and the chance to see which players will excel on this international stage.