The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
The Federation of International Football Associations on Tuesday confirmed that 1,248 players representing 48 nations will feature at the 2026 World Cup.
Among them, 891 players will make their tournament debuts while 357 are returning to the global stage.
The figures were contained in FIFA’s published final squad lists ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026, across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
According to FIFA, the expanded 48-team format marks a historic milestone in the competition’s evolution, with unprecedented global representation across 104 matches.
