The World Cup Countdown Begins
As the world eagerly awaits the most anticipated football event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States, Mexico, and Canada are preparing to host a record-breaking 48 men’s teams starting on June 12 (AEST). The deadline for national teams to finalize their squads is June 1, but several nations have already announced their lineups. France, New Zealand, Sweden, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are among the first to confirm their rosters.
Group A
Mexico
Expected June 1.
South Africa
Expected on or before June 1.
South Korea
Expected May 16.
Czechia
Expected on or before June 1.
Group B
Canada
Expected on or before June 1.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia’s manager, Sergej Barbarez, has selected a squad that blends experience with youth. Veteran striker Edin Dzeko leads the attack, while uncapped midfielder Ermin Mahmic has been included after his request to switch allegiance was approved by FIFA.
Dzeko, who is Bosnia’s most capped player and top scorer, is one of two survivors from the 2014 World Cup squad. He faced a shoulder injury during the playoff against Italy, which affected his performance in the shootout. Despite this, he has returned to fitness and will be a key player for Bosnia.
Barbarez also highlighted the potential of 18-year-old winger Kerim Alajbegovic, who has shown promise in recent matches.
Goalkeepers:
– Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli)
– Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka)
– Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders:
– Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta)
– Amar Dedic (Benfica)
– Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep)
– Nikola Katic (Schalke 04)
– Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo)
– Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka)
– Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria)
– Nidal Celik (Lens)
Midfielders:
– Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City)
– Ivan Sunjic (Pafos)
– Ivan Basic (Astana)
– Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC)
– Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec)
– Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby)
– Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen)
– Armin Gigovic (Young Boys)
– Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg)
– Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards:
– Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart)
– Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj)
– Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok)
– Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
– Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04)
Group C
Brazil
Expected May 18.
Morocco
Expected May 21.
Haiti
Expected on or before June 1.
Scotland
Expected May 30.
Group D
USA
Expected May 26.
Paraguay
Expected on or before June 1.
Australia
Expected June 1.
Turkey
Expected on or before June 1.
Group E
Germany
Expected May 21.
Curacao
Expected on or before June 1.
Ivory Coast
Expected May 15.
Ecuador
Expected on or before June 1.
Group F
Netherlands
Expected May 25.
Japan
Expected May 15.
Sweden
Sweden’s squad includes forward Alexander Isak, but there was no place for Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski due to a knee injury. Coach Janne Andersson made a tough decision, stating it was difficult to include someone who had not recovered in time for the tournament.
Sweden’s campaign in the qualifiers was challenging, but they managed to secure their spot through the playoffs.
Goalkeepers:
– Viktor Johansson (Stoke City)
– Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK)
– Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (Derby County)
Defenders:
– Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley)
– Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United)
– Isak Hien (Atalanta)
– Emil Holm (Juventus)
– Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga)
– Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa)
– Erik Smith (St. Pauli)
– Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo)
– Elliot Stroud (Mjallby)
– Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders:
– Taha Ali (Malmo)
– Yasin Ayari (Brighton)
– Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)
– Jesper Karlstrom (Udinese)
– Ken Sema (Pafos)
– Mattias Svanberg (Wolfsburg)
– Besfort Zeneli (Union St-Gilloise)
Forwards:
– Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel)
– Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United)
– Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
– Alexander Isak (Liverpool)
– Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge)
– Benjamin Nygren (Celtic)
Tunisia
Expected May 15.
Group G
Belgium
Expected May 15.
Egypt
Expected May 29.
Iran
Expected on or before June 1.
New Zealand
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has been selected to lead New Zealand’s 26-strong squad despite an injury-plagued season. Wood and defender Tommy Smith will become the first New Zealand players to feature in two World Cups.
New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley emphasized the importance of selecting the best possible squad to advance beyond the group stage.
Goalkeepers:
– Max Crocombe (Millwall FC)
– Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk)
– Michael Woud (Auckland FC)
Defenders:
– Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix)
– Francis De Vries (Auckland FC)
– Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest)
– Michael Boxall (Minnesota United)
– Liberato Cacace (Wrexham AFC)
– Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC)
– Finn Surman (Portland Timbers)
– Callan Elliot (Auckland FC)
– Tommy Smith (Braintree Town)
Midfielders:
– Joe Bell (Viking FK)
– Marko Stamenic (Swansea City)
– Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix)
– Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)
– Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets)
Forwards:
– Matt Garbett (Peterborough United)
– Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
– Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix)
– Eli Just (Motherwell FC)
– Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers)
– Ben Waine (Port Vale)
– Ben Old (Saint-Etienne)
– Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg)
– Jesse Randall (Auckland FC)
Group H
Spain
Expected May 25
Cape Verde
Expected on or before June 1
Saudi Arabia
Expected on or before June 1
Uruguay
Expected on or before June 1
Group I
France
France’s squad features a strong attacking lineup led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and new goalkeeper Robin Risser.
Goalkeepers:
– Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
– Robin Risser (Lens)
– Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders:
– Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
– Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
– Lucas Hernandez (Paris St-Germain)
– Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal)
– Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
– Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
– Jules Kounde (Barcelona)
– William Saliba (Arsenal)
– Dayot Upamenaco (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders:
– N’Golo Kante (Fenerbache)
– Manu Kone (Roma)
– Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
– Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
– Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St-Germain)
Forwards:
– Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco)
– Bradley Barcola (Paris St-Germain)
– Rayan Cherki (Man City)
– Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain)
– Desire Doue (Paris St-Germain)
– Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
– Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
– Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
– Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
Group J
Argentina
Expected on or before June 1.
Algeria
Expected on or before June 1.
Austria
Expected May 18.
Jordan
Expected on or before June 1.
Group K
Portugal
Expected May 19.
DR Congo
Expected May 18.
Uzbekistan
Expected on or before June 1.
Colombia
Expected May 29.
Group L
England
Expected May 22.
Croatia
Expected June 1.
Ghana
Expected on or before June 1.
Panama
Expected May 26.
