The countdown to the World Cup 2026 is officially on, and the football world is buzzing with excitement as nations begin unveiling their 26-man squads for this summer's historic tournament. Set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11, this year's competition marks a monumental milestone with 48 teams vying for glory—bringing more players than ever before to the sport's grandest stage.
Each participating country must submit its final roster to FIFA by the June 2 deadline, with squads ranging from 23 to 26 players (including at least three goalkeepers). In case of injury, a player can only be replaced by someone from a pre-submitted 55-man preliminary list, and that swap must happen no later than 24 hours before the team's opening match. With May serving as the primary month for squad announcements, fans can expect a steady stream of reveals in the weeks ahead.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is slated to name his 26-man squad on Friday, May 22, while Bosnia and Herzegovina made history as the first nation to confirm their roster on May 11. South Korea is set to follow suit on May 16, keeping the excitement rolling.
Bosnia's squad headlines the early announcements, as they prepare for just their second World Cup appearance after edging past Wales in the playoffs. Leading the charge is 40-year-old striker Edin Džeko, a former Manchester City star who is poised to join an exclusive club of outfield players in their 40s to compete on football's biggest stage—a feat only previously achieved by Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1994. Here's a look at Bosnia's full roster:
Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders: Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedić (Benfica), Nihad Mujakić (Gaziantep), Nikola Katić (Schalke), Tarik Muharemović (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljić (Rijeka), Dennis Hadžikadunić (Sampdoria), Nidal Čelik (Lens)
Midfielders: Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City), Ivan Šunjić (Pafos), Ivan Bašić (Astana), Dženiš Burnić (Karlsruher), Ermin Mahmić (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirović (Brøndby), Amar Memić (Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigović (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegović (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarević (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukić (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Białystok)
As more squads roll out in the coming weeks, the excitement for a summer of unforgettable football only continues to build. Stay tuned for updates on every team and player headed to the 2026 World Cup!