FIFA World Cup 2026: Some key aspects of the squads announced so far

The biggest football festival in the world, the FIFA World Cup 2026, is just a few days away. Ahead of the global tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, participating countries have started announcing their preliminary squads. Discussions are already underway about the formation of teams, including the world’s football superstars as well as emerging young talents.

From Neymar’s return to the Brazil squad to Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup at the age of 41, the excitement among football fans is at its peak. Each country will have to submit its final 26-man list by June 2. Before that, let’s take a look at some important aspects of the teams’ squads:

News from Latin American superpowers

• Brazil: The biggest surprise in the Selecao squad is Neymar’s inclusion. The 34-year-old star has been out of the national team for a long time due to injury since 2023. Despite battling injuries, coach Carlo Ancelotti has placed his trust in him due to his strong desire to play in the World Cup. The team also includes star players like Vinicius Junior, Rafinha and Marquinhos.

Preparations of European giants

• Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is playing in his sixth World Cup. Ronaldo, who has scored 143 goals in 226 matches, is joined by stars like Ruben Diaz, Bernardo Silva and Vitinha in the Portugal squad. However, Tottenham’s Joao Paulinho was not included.
• France: Didier Deschamps has assembled a star-studded squad. Young Turkish player Desiree Due has been called up to the French team alongside Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Aulis.
• Germany: Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has returned to the Germany squad after retiring from international football after Euro 2024. He will travel to North America for his fifth World Cup as the first-choice goalkeeper. The team also includes Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz.
• Belgium: Matias Fernandez-Pardo has been called up for the first time in coach Rudi Garcia’s 26-man squad, alongside veterans like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku.
• Croatia: Veteran Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are joined by injured defender Josko Guardiola.
• Norway: Erling Haaland and Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sarlath will be seen together in attack. Arsenal star Martin Odegaard will handle the midfield.

The wonders of Africa and Asia

• Egypt: As always, the Egyptian team’s mainstay is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, along with Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet.
• Senegal: Coach Pape Thieu has called up several youngsters who have played in the English Premier League, along with familiar faces like Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.
• South Korea: Son Heung-min will continue to lead the team as usual. Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae in defense and Lee Jae-sung in midfield are the mainstays of the Koreans.
• Japan: Despite keeping Wataru Endo and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the team after recovering from injuries, one of Brighton’s best stars, Mitoma, has been left out of the squad due to injury.
• IR Iran: Experienced striker Mehdi Taremi is in the team, but Sardar Azmoun, one of the country’s top scorers, was not included.

Notable information from other countries

• New Zealand: Chris Wood and Tommy Smith are set to make history by returning to the World Cup after 16 years. They will become the first players in New Zealand’s history to participate in two different World Cups.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: 40-year-old Edin Dzeko will lead his team to only their second World Cup, returning to the world stage after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Once the final team is announced, no changes can be made to these teams except for injuries or other major reasons. Millions of fans are now eagerly waiting to see these best stars in the world of football fight on the field.