FIFA Mandates 55-Player Provisional Squad for World Cup

G. E (Elbotola)

29 March 2026at12:45

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has approved a new regulation for the World Cup finals, making the preliminary 55-player squad list mandatory for participating national teams. Under this decision, coaches must select their final 26-player roster exclusively from this pre-submitted preliminary group.

These new restrictions also extend to injury replacements. It is now mandatory to select substitutes solely from the preliminary list, even if an injury occurs after the final squad has been submitted. This represents a fundamental shift from previous rules, which allowed coaches the freedom to call up any player as a replacement in medical emergencies after the final squad submission deadline.

Regarding the organizational deadlines, FIFA has set May 11 as the final date for submitting the preliminary squads, which must include at least four goalkeepers. June 1 will be the deadline for submitting the final 26-player squad. While the 26-player cap is maintained for each team among the 48 participating nations, the regulations allow for the squad to be reduced to 23 players.

This measure aims to streamline the administrative processes for national teams, such as the Spanish national team led by Luis de la Fuente, and other teams qualified for the global tournament. The system in the previous edition in Qatar saw the preliminary squad size increase from 35 to 55 players, before being transformed into the current mandatory list, which prohibits the inclusion of players from outside it under any circumstances.

Q&A

What is the new FIFA World Cup squad rule?

FIFA has approved a new regulation making a 55-player provisional squad list mandatory for all national teams participating in the World Cup. Coaches must now select their final 26-player roster exclusively from this pre-submitted group, a significant change.

How do the new FIFA squad rules affect injury replacements?

The new FIFA rules significantly restrict injury replacements, mandating that substitutes must be selected solely from the preliminary 55-player list. This differs from previous editions, where coaches had more freedom to call up any player in medical emergencies.

When do national teams need to submit their World Cup squad lists?

National teams must submit their preliminary 55-player squads by May 11, ensuring at least four goalkeepers are included. The final 26-player squad, which can be reduced to 23, must then be submitted to FIFA by June 1.