Last reviewed: June 2026
FIFA expanded the World Cup squad size from 23 to 26 players from the 2022 tournament in Qatar onwards. Each nation selects a squad of 26, with 23 eligible to be named in the match-day squad for any given fixture. Specific rules govern injury replacements, goalkeeper requirements, and the periods during which squad changes are permitted.
Key points
- Each nation selects a squad of 26 players for the World Cup, increased from 23 from the 2022 tournament onwards.
- From the 26-player squad, 23 are selected as the match-day squad for each individual fixture.
- At least three of the 26 nominated players must be goalkeepers.
- Players injured before the first match can be replaced with FIFA approval from the national association.
- Players sent off in a match can be replaced in the squad for subsequent matches only in specific circumstances.
The 26-Player Squad Rule
FIFA increased the permitted squad size for the World Cup from 23 to 26 players ahead of the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The change was introduced in part as a response to concerns about player welfare during a particularly congested football calendar and to reflect the pressures on players during extended international tournaments. The 26-player limit has continued for the 2026 tournament.
Each national association must submit its official 26-player squad to FIFA by the deadline specified in the competition regulations. The deadline is typically set several weeks before the tournament begins, giving FIFA time to process and confirm all squad registrations before competition begins. Once the squad is submitted and confirmed, changes are only possible under specific circumstances set out in the competition regulations.
The 26 nominated players are the only individuals eligible to participate in any match for their nation during the tournament. A player who is not named in the official 26-player squad cannot be added later, except in the specific injury replacement provisions described below. This makes the squad selection process one of the most significant decisions a national team manager makes before the tournament begins.
Match-Day Squad Selection
From the 26-player tournament squad, teams select a match-day squad of 23 players for each individual fixture. The three players who are not included in the match-day 23 cannot participate in that specific match in any capacity. This provision was retained from the previous 23-player squad era: even though 26 players are now part of the tournament squad, only 23 can be active for any given match.
The selection of 23 from 26 gives national team managers additional flexibility compared to the previous era. A manager with a 23-player squad had no room to exclude anyone for individual matches - all 23 were automatically included in the match-day squad. With 26 players, managers can make tactical decisions about which three to exclude for each match, potentially resting players, managing injury concerns, or selecting a different combination based on the specific opponent.
The match-day squad submission process requires teams to confirm their 23-player selection within the timeframe specified in FIFA's match-day procedures. Typically this is submitted in the hours before each match. Teams cannot make changes to the match-day 23 after it has been submitted except in specific emergency circumstances.
Goalkeeper Requirements
FIFA competition regulations require that at least three of the 26 nominated players must be goalkeepers. This requirement ensures that each nation has adequate goalkeeping cover throughout the tournament and that a team is not left without a specialist goalkeeper following injury.
The three-goalkeeper requirement means that in practice most squads include exactly three goalkeepers, with the remaining 23 places allocated to outfield players. Some nations choose to include more than three goalkeepers in exceptional circumstances, but this is unusual as it reduces the number of available outfield players.
If a goalkeeper is injured during the tournament and a replacement is required, the replacement must also be a goalkeeper. This ensures the overall requirement of having adequate goalkeeping coverage is maintained even when replacements are made.
Injury Replacements Before the First Match
If a player suffers a significant injury between the squad announcement and the team's first match of the tournament, the national association can apply to FIFA to replace that player. FIFA's medical staff or appointed medical experts assess the injury to confirm that the player is genuinely unable to participate in the tournament.
If the injury is confirmed as preventing tournament participation, the national association may nominate a replacement. The replacement must be a player who was not already named in the original 26-player squad. The replacement must be submitted to and approved by FIFA within the timeframe set out in the competition regulations.
Injury replacements after the tournament has begun (after the team's first match) are not permitted under standard World Cup regulations. Once competition has started, nations must complete the tournament with their original 26-player squad subject to any specific provisions in the regulations for extraordinary circumstances.
Suspended and Sent-Off Players
Players who receive yellow cards during the group stage accumulate towards suspension thresholds. FIFA sets the yellow card accumulation threshold that triggers an automatic suspension. Typically, a player receiving two yellow cards in the group stage is suspended for one match, usually their team's next match in the tournament.
Players who are sent off with a direct red card receive an automatic one-match suspension and may face additional suspensions if the red card is reviewed by FIFA's disciplinary committee as meriting a longer ban. A sent-off player does not leave the tournament squad but cannot participate in the next match and possibly subsequent matches depending on any additional sanction.
Yellow cards accumulated in the group stage are cleared after the round of 16, meaning players carrying one yellow card into the round of 16 begin the quarter-finals with a clean slate. This clearing of yellow cards prevents suspensions from group stage bookings affecting the later knockout rounds, a provision designed to ensure that the most significant matches are not distorted by disciplinary accumulation from the group stage.
The Evolution of Squad Size Rules
World Cup squad sizes have evolved over the tournament's history. The 1966 World Cup allowed 22-player squads. The 1982 World Cup increased this to 22, then 23 from 1986. FIFA further expanded to 26 for 2022. The trend has been towards larger squads reflecting the increased physical demands of modern international football and the compressed domestic football calendar that players operate within.
The 2020 UEFA European Championship, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was permitted with 26-player squads due to the exceptional health context of that tournament. FIFA extended the same provision to the World Cup from 2022 on a permanent basis. UEFA has since adopted 26-player squads for its major tournaments on an ongoing basis.
FIFA publishes the full official competition regulations for each World Cup on its website before the tournament begins. These regulations are the authoritative source for squad size, match-day selection, injury replacement, substitution rules, and all other competition-specific provisions. Where there is any conflict between general guidance and the published competition regulations, the regulations govern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can be in a World Cup squad?
26 players per nation. This increased from 23 ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and continues for 2026. At least three of the 26 must be goalkeepers. For any individual match, 23 of the 26 are selected as the match-day squad.
Can a nation add players to the squad after it has been submitted?
Only in specific circumstances. If a player is significantly injured before the team's first match, the national association can apply to FIFA for approval to replace them. Replacements after competition has begun are not permitted under standard regulations. Players not in the original 26-player squad cannot participate in the tournament.
What happens to the three players not in the match-day 23?
They cannot participate in that specific match in any capacity, including as substitutes. However, they remain part of the 26-player tournament squad and can be included in the match-day 23 for subsequent matches. The manager selects the match-day 23 from the 26 for each individual fixture.
How many substitutes can be used in a World Cup match?
FIFA introduced a temporary rule permitting five substitutions per team per match at major tournaments from 2022 onwards. This provision was first introduced in domestic football in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently made permanent. From the match-day 23, up to five substitutions can be made, using up to three substitution windows. Check the current FIFA competition regulations for the 2026 confirmed substitution rules.
What happens if a team loses multiple players to injury during the tournament?
Teams cannot add new players once competition has begun under standard regulations. If a team suffers severe injuries to multiple players during the tournament, they must complete their campaign with the remaining eligible players from the original 26-player squad. This is one reason why the full 26-player squad is important - it provides more cover than the previous 23-player limit.
