How many players does each WC2026 squad have, and can injured players be replaced?
Each squad has 26 players. An injured player can be replaced up to 24 hours before the team's first group match (FIFA medical sign-off required). After that, the squad is locked.
FIFA confirmed the squad size at 26 players for WC2026, the same as Qatar 2022 (up from the previous 23). Coaches need the extra depth for the expanded tournament — 64 matches becomes 104, knockout rounds get longer, and the heat across many North-American venues forces more rotation.
A team must include three goalkeepers in the 26. Three minimum is non-negotiable for FIFA — if any GK becomes unavailable for the rest of the tournament, the squad must be backfilled by FIFA medical exemption rules.
Injury replacements: a player ruled unfit by the team doctor can be swapped out up to 24 hours before the team's first group-stage match, with FIFA medical sign-off. Once the team has played its opening match, the squad is locked. After that, only an emergency goalkeeper replacement is permitted, and only with FIFA approval.
On match day each team can name 11 starters plus 12 substitutes on the bench. Five substitutions are allowed during regulation (in up to three substitution windows so the game isn't stop-start) plus one additional substitution during extra time in knockout matches.
Related questions
- How does the FIFA World Cup 2026 format work?48 teams, 12 groups of 4, group stage of 72 matches, then a 32-team knockout round, all the way to the final on July 19, 2026.
- How do extra time and penalty shootouts work at WC2026?Knockout matches level after 90 minutes go to 30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves). Still level → penalty shootout, best of 5 alternating kicks, then sudden death.
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