Every squad is in. Every cut stings. The 2026 FIFA World Cup just locked 1,248 players across 48 nations — and the selection drama is already louder than half the group-stage matches will be.

The Scale Is Insane

For the first time ever, the World Cup will feature 48 teams. The jump from 32 means 24 extra matches, three host nations, and a tournament sprawling from Vancouver to Mexico City to New York.

FIFA dropped the official numbers: 1,248 players from 449 clubs across 71 countries. Of those, 357 have been here before. For 891? It's their first dance.

This roster showcases the scale and appeal of the tournament. — FIFA

And the age range? Over 25 years separates the oldest and youngest players. When the opening match kicks off on June 11, 22 players will be teenagers. Seven will be 40 or older. Let that sink in.

The Sixth-Timers Club

Three legends are about to make history: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) are all heading to their sixth World Cup. No one has ever done that before.

Luka Modrić (Croatia) isn't far behind — this will be his fifth.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — both headed to a record sixth World Cup in 2026

The Selection Drama — Because It's Not Just About Stats

With roster sizes expanded from 23 to 26 (a change that started in 2022), managers have more flexibility than ever. But more spots haven't meant less controversy.

Brazil: Neymar In, Pedro Out

The biggest talking point? Neymar made the cut for Brazil. Manager Carlo Ancelotti bet on the 34-year-old's leadership and playmaking — despite the fact that he's barely played for the national team recently and just picked up a knock that has fans nervous.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's João Pedro got left out despite a fantastic Premier League season. The stats don't lie: 0 goals and 0 assists in 8 national team appearances. Ancelotti had the receipts.

England: Tuchel Went Nuclear

Thomas Tuchel didn't just make cuts — he made statements. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out. The reasoning? "Form." But John Stones, who's barely played this season, made the squad. The math isn't mathing for a lot of England fans.

The drama got even messier when Harry Maguire posted his "farewell" on social media before the official squad announcement dropped. Unwritten rule broken. If someone gets injured and England needs a replacement? Maguire's tweet might have just burned that bridge.

Sweden's Cold Calculation

Sometimes it's not about talent at all. Barcelona's Roony Bardghji — one of Sweden's most technically gifted players — was left off the roster. Why? Swedish media reports that after Sweden qualified, Bardghji (who didn't feature in the decisive matches) "expressed anger and behaved in unacceptable ways." Manager Graham Potter viewed him as a locker-room risk and cut him. Cold. But in a tournament where chemistry matters as much as skill, maybe necessary.

What Managers Actually Balance in a 26-Man Squad

Tactical fit over individual brilliance
Locker-room chemistry over raw stats
Leadership presence over recent club form
Positional versatility across the expanded bench

The Manager's Dilemma

Here's the thing about World Cup squad selections: they're never purely about who's playing the best soccer.

The teams that win aren't the ones with the most talent on paper. They're the ones that function as an actual team.

The real test comes when the knockout rounds start. If a favorite crashes out early, every controversial selection becomes ammunition. If they lift the trophy in New Jersey on July 19? Genius moves, all of them.

Key Dates (All Times Eastern)

Match	Date	Time (ET)
Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa	June 11	3:00 PM
Messi's Opener: Argentina vs Algeria	June 16	9:00 PM
Ronaldo's Opener: Portugal vs DR Congo	June 17	1:00 PM
World Cup Final	July 19	3:00 PM

The 12-hour time difference from Beijing means US viewers get afternoon and prime-time matches — a scheduling win for North American fans.

See you on June 11. This is going to be massive.

Key Takeaways

The Scale Is Insane

The Sixth-Timers Club

The Selection Drama — Because It's Not Just About Stats

Brazil: Neymar In, Pedro Out

England: Tuchel Went Nuclear

Sweden's Cold Calculation

What Managers Actually Balance in a 26-Man Squad

The Manager's Dilemma

Key Dates (All Times Eastern)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are in the 2026 World Cup?

Who is playing in their sixth World Cup in 2026?

Why was Phil Foden left out of England's World Cup squad?

Did Neymar make Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad?

When does World Cup 2026 start?

messi sixth world cup

The World Cup's 1,248 Players Are Locked In — And the Drama Is Already Unreal