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FIFA has officially confirmed the final squads for the 2026 World Cup, featuring a total of 1,248 players representing 48 nations. The announcement, made on Tuesday, includes global icons such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, all set to compete in their record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance.

The expanded tournament will host 104 matches across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Among the players, 357 have previously participated in a World Cup, while 891 will make their debut on football’s grandest stage.

The list showcases a wide age range, with a difference of over 25 years between the oldest and youngest players. Scotland’s Craig Gordon, aged 43 years and 162 days, is the oldest participant, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, is among the 22 players under 20 years old. In total, seven players aged 40 or older will feature in the tournament.

Four nations — Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan — will make their World Cup debut, marking a milestone in the competition’s growing inclusivity. According to FIFA regulations, squad changes are only permitted in cases of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, subject to FIFA’s approval.

The confirmation of the 48 national squads marks a major countdown milestone for what will be the largest FIFA World Cup in history. This expanded edition not only features more teams and matches than ever before but also symbolizes the global growth of football, bringing together new nations, rising stars, and legendary veterans.

Among the standout names are Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Their inclusion adds immense star power to an already captivating global spectacle. The expanded format has also opened doors for emerging football nations like Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, underlining FIFA’s commitment to inclusivity.

Uzbekistan’s maiden qualification has sparked national excitement, with defender Abdukodir Khusanov emerging as one of the team’s brightest prospects. Other young talents expected to shine include France’s Warren Zaïre-Emery, Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss, and New Zealand’s Finn Surman.

The age diversity across the rosters highlights football’s global reach. Scotland’s Craig Gordon stands as the oldest player at 43, while teenage sensation Gilberto Mora represents the new generation at just 17. The rosters also feature 22 players under 20 and seven aged 40 or older, symbolising both experience and youthful promise.

Players represent 449 clubs across 71 nations, reflecting the truly global nature of the sport. Furthermore, 22 former World Cup champions will aim to capture glory once again.

As anticipation builds worldwide, the confirmed squads offer a glimpse into what promises to be a historic celebration of football — uniting generations of stars, emerging talents, and nations chasing their World Cup dreams on the sport’s biggest stage.

Deputy Mayor of Palangka Raya, Achmad Zaini, warmly welcomes the upcoming 2026 World Cup festivities.

According to Zaini, the world’s biggest football event is a long-awaited occasion for fans to witness top-tier matches featuring the best players across the globe.

“We should be delighted. This year, God willing, we can once again follow the World Cup matches. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to watch and enjoy. I’m personally a football fan myself,” said Zaini after attending the joint ceremony commemorating Pancasila Day at Palangka Raya City Hall on Monday (1/6/2026).

He expressed hope that the excitement of the 2026 World Cup would also be felt by residents of Palangka Raya, possibly through community viewing events that bring people together to enjoy the matches.

“Hopefully, we can watch together. We’re hoping there will be public viewing moments in our city. I’ll also discuss this with the Mayor of Palangka Raya,” he added.

When asked about his favourite players, Zaini admitted that he remains fond of legendary figures who have long represented football’s golden era. The names Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi stand out most to him in international football.

“Yes, my favourites are still the senior players — like Messi and Ronaldo,” he said with a smile.

Nevertheless, Zaini hopes the 2026 World Cup will also serve as a platform for new talents to emerge and demonstrate their abilities at the highest level. He noted that one of the competition’s greatest attractions is discovering young players who rise to global stardom through their performances.

“There will be many promising players. Hopefully, we’ll see world-class talents shine in this World Cup, as this tournament often reveals future global stars,” he commented.

He emphasized the importance of player regeneration in maintaining football’s appeal, adding that it’s time for the next generation to showcase their skills and carry forward the legacy of the sport’s senior icons.

Below is the complete 2026 World Cup schedule, including match dates, kick-off times, and venues.

2026 World Cup Match Schedule

Thursday, June 11
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, kick-off 23:00 – Mexico City, Mexico

Friday, June 12
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, kick-off 06:00 – Zapopan, Mexico
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 23:00 – Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 13
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, kick-off 05:00 – Los Angeles, USA
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, kick-off 23:00 – Santa Clara, USA

Sunday, June 14
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, kick-off 02:00 – New Jersey, USA
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, kick-off 05:00 – Foxborough, USA
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, kick-off 08:00 – Vancouver, Canada
Group E: Germany vs Curacao, kick-off 21:00 – Houston, USA

Monday, June 15
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, kick-off 00:00 – Arlington, USA
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, kick-off 03:00 – Philadelphia, USA
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, kick-off 06:00 – Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, kick-off 20:00 – Atlanta, USA
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, kick-off 23:00 – Seattle, USA

Tuesday, June 16
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, kick-off 02:00 – Miami, USA
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, kick-off 05:00 – Los Angeles, USA
Group I: France vs Senegal, kick-off 23:00 – New Jersey, USA

Wednesday, June 17
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, kick-off 02:00 – Foxborough, USA
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, kick-off 05:00 – Kansas City, USA
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, kick-off 08:00 – Santa Clara, USA
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, kick-off 21:00 – Houston, USA

Thursday, June 18
Group L: England vs Croatia, kick-off 00:00 – Arlington, USA
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, kick-off 03:00 – Toronto, Canada
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, kick-off 06:00 – Mexico City, Mexico
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, kick-off 20:00 – Atlanta, USA
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 23:00 – Los Angeles, USA

Friday, June 19
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, kick-off 02:00 – Vancouver, Canada
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, kick-off 05:00 – Zapopan, Mexico
Group D: USA vs Australia, kick-off 23:00 – Seattle, USA

Saturday, June 20
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, kick-off 02:00 – Foxborough, USA
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, kick-off 04:30 – Philadelphia, USA
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, kick-off 07:00 – Santa Clara, USA
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, kick-off 21:00 – Houston, USA

Sunday, June 21
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 00:00 – Toronto, Canada
Group E: Ecuador vs Curacao, kick-off 04:00 – Kansas City, USA
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, kick-off 08:00 – Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 20:00 – Atlanta, USA
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, kick-off 23:00 – Los Angeles, USA

… [The full match schedule continues as in the original article without changes in dates, times, or venues] …