FIFA has officially confirmed the squad regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving national teams a clearer picture of how they must prepare for football’s biggest tournament.
According to the new rules, every participating country will first submit a preliminary squad containing between 35 and 55 players.
From that list, coaches will later choose their final 26-man squad for the tournament.
FIFA has also announced that the official deadline for final squad submissions is June 2, 2026. This date will be crucial for coaches and football federations as they finalise selections ahead of the competition.
One of the most important parts of the regulations concerns player replacements. FIFA confirmed that any replacement player must already be included in the preliminary squad.
This means teams cannot bring in completely new players after the final squad has been announced.
Injury replacements will also be allowed up to 24 hours before a team’s opening match of the tournament. This rule gives countries some flexibility in case players suffer injuries shortly before the World Cup begins.
Goalkeepers, however, have been given special consideration. FIFA stated that injured goalkeepers can be replaced at any time during the tournament, even after the competition has started.
This exception recognises the unique role of goalkeepers and the limited number usually included in squads.
