TRIBUNNEWS.COM - The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has officially released the full squad lists of all participating nations for the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams and a total of 1,248 players competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Among the announced players, there are 22 who have already experienced the thrill of winning the World Cup title.
Who are they?
Germany National Team: Manuel Neuer as the Sole Representative of the 2014 World Cup Champions
Within Germany’s national squad, only one player has previously won the World Cup — Manuel Neuer.
The veteran goalkeeper was part of the German team that triumphed at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Manuel Neuer stands as the lone representative from that championship-winning generation, now returning to the German squad for the 2026 World Cup.
France National Team: Four 2018 World Cup Winners Still Standing
Meanwhile, France continues to rely on several players from the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The four remaining champions are Ousmane Dembélé, Lucas Hernández, N’Golo Kanté, and Kylian Mbappé.
All four have once again been called up by coach Didier Deschamps for the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina National Team: The Reigning Champions Still Dominate
On the other hand, Argentina arrive at the tournament as the reigning champions, having claimed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Most of the players who helped Argentina lift the 2022 trophy remain part of the squad.
Names such as Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lautaro Martínez continue to feature prominently.
With this lineup, Argentina are once again seen as one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup title.
The 2026 World Cup Promises Greater Excitement
Aside from the 22 players mentioned, the 2026 World Cup marks a historic milestone as it will, for the first time, feature 48 participating nations.
This is a substantial increase from the previous format, which included only 32 teams.
The new structure has drawn attention from many observers.
Football analyst Adrian from Spietalg Indonesia commented that the new format essentially extends the knockout phase, though it also adds more excitement to the tournament.
“It actually just delays the climax,” Adrian stated during Tribunnews’ podcast titled ‘SUPER TAKTIK: The Power Map of the 2026 World Cup and the Dream of Indonesia’s National Team’.
He added that the inclusion of more teams brings fresh dynamics to the tournament, with the return of nations that have long been absent and the debut of newcomers on the world stage.
“There are many countries either playing for the first time or coming back after a very long break,” he explained.
Adrian also highlighted concerns over player fitness, particularly since many top European leagues will have just concluded before the tournament begins.
“The title favourites must carefully manage player fitness so they stay fresh through the knockout rounds,” he concluded.
(Tribunnews.com/Isnaini)
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