Manchester City Leads with 19 Players Selected, Other Fascinating World Cup 2026 Facts
FIFA has officially released the player list for the 2026 World Cup, featuring 1,248 players from 48 countries. Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa have been selected for their sixth World Cup appearances. This tournament will feature the highest representation from English clubs with 200 players, and Manchester City leads with 19 players selected. Kathmandu, May 4 – The final squad lists for all participating nations in the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place from June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, have been made public. FIFA announced the official lineup of 48 teams on June 2. Each team consists of 26 players, bringing the total number of players competing to 1,248.
With the increase in participating teams from 32 to 48, the number of players has significantly risen as well. After the final squad announcements, some notable statistics about the teams include: 200 players currently play for English clubs and will participate in the World Cup across various national teams. Similarly, German clubs contribute 109 players, with French and Spanish clubs providing 86 players each, Italy 71, Saudi Arabia 49, Turkey 45, the United States 42, the Netherlands 46, and Brazil and Portugal each with 36 players.
Craig Gordon, the goalkeeper from Scotland, is the oldest player selected for the World Cup squads and will be the eldest outfield player to compete. Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who played in the 2018 World Cup at age 45, holds the record for the oldest World Cup player. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is set to become the fourth oldest player in World Cup history. Twenty-two players who have previously won the FIFA World Cup are set to compete again in 2026.
Manchester City leads all clubs with 19 players selected for the World Cup. These players represent the national teams of Algeria, Belgium, Croatia, Egypt, England, France, Ghana, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Uzbekistan. Mexico’s 17-year-old Gilberto Mora is the youngest player included in this tournament. Argentina’s Lionel Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history with 13 and aims to extend this tally in the upcoming event.
