2026 World Cup: New Rules on Final Squad and Substitute Players

Staff Report: PNN
With only a few weeks left before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, excitement among football fans is increasing over the announcement of final squads by participating countries. FIFA has already published the schedule for squad submission and rules regarding player changes.

According to FIFA instructions, each participating team must submit a preliminary squad by May 11. This list can include a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 55 players. Additionally, information of up to 75 staff members including coaches, medical staff, and managers must also be submitted.

However, this preliminary list will not be made public. It will mainly be used to replace players in case of injury or special circumstances before the tournament.

FIFA has also set May 25 as the deadline for clubs to release players for national teams. However, some exceptions are allowed for players participating in UEFA Champions League Final, UEFA Europa Conference League Final, and CONCACAF Champions Cup Final.

The final squad submission window is between May 25 and June 1. Each country must submit a final squad of 23 to 26 players. FIFA has maintained permission for a 26-player squad, as in previous World Cups.

FIFA announced that all approved final squads will be officially published on June 2. Although many teams may announce squads earlier, they will only be officially recognized after FIFA approval.

Strict rules have been set for player replacements. Only players from the preliminary list can be used as replacements in case of serious injury or illness. Any change must be completed at least 24 hours before the team’s first match.

It is also mandatory that replacement players must have been included in the preliminary list. FIFA’s medical team must verify the player’s condition before approving any change.

A total of 48 countries will participate in the upcoming World Cup, and it is expected that 1,248 players will take part, making it one of the largest and most competitive editions in World Cup history.