FIFA World Cup 2026: All 48 Squads Finalised Ahead of June 11 Opener as Injury Drama and Late Shocks Rock Nations

(WS News) – With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off on June 11, all 48 participating nations have now submitted their final 26-man squads ahead of today’s official deadline. The tournament — to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will be the first in history to feature an expanded 48-team format, making squad selection decisions more complex and consequential than ever before. The coming days have already delivered significant talking points, injuries, surprises, and controversies as coaches across the world finalised their picks.

One of the most closely watched storylines heading into the tournament is the fitness of Brazil’s Neymar, who is racing to prove himself ready for the opening match. The veteran forward has been battling physical setbacks throughout the preparation period, leaving the Brazilian coaching staff with a difficult decision that dragged on until the very last moment. Meanwhile, the Netherlands suffered a significant blow with the news that defender Matthijs de Ligt has failed to recover from a back injury and will miss the entire tournament after undergoing additional surgery.

DR Congo Cleared to Compete After Travel Scare

Perhaps the most dramatic pre-tournament development involved the DR Congo national team, which had been placed under US travel restrictions due to Ebola-related health concerns. Following urgent high-level discussions between the Congolese football association FECOFA, its president Veron Mosengo Omba, and senior FIFA representatives, the team was officially cleared to travel to the United States and participate in the tournament. The resolution was welcomed with relief across the football world, ensuring that DR Congo’s historic second-ever World Cup appearance would go ahead as planned.

Japan also saw a last-minute exclusion, with midfielder Takumi Minamino failing to make the final squad despite a remarkable recovery from an ACL injury sustained in December. Minamino had resumed training in March in a bid to defy medical timelines but ultimately could not convince the selectors he was ready to compete at the highest level.

The Road to June 11

The tournament opens on June 11 with Mexico taking on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — a deeply symbolic venue for the host nation making its third appearance as a World Cup host. The USA, playing their first home World Cup since 1994, kick off against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in a match that is expected to draw record broadcast audiences across North America.

With 48 teams, 16 stadiums, and 104 matches spread across three nations over 39 days, this will be the biggest World Cup in the tournament’s history. Billions of fans across the globe are counting down the days. The next three weeks of preparation, final warm-up matches, and last-minute fitness tests will set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable summer of football.