World Cup squad announcement dates: When USMNT, Mexico, Brazil and more reveal final rosters

With one month to go until the 2026 World Cup, national-team coaches are diving into the most delicate task of the past few months: locking in the names of the players who will represent them on North America’s biggest stage.

Selecting a squad is always one of the most painstaking jobs for any manager. No matter how deep the talent pool, there will always be worthy players left off the list - and fans are never shy about voicing their frustration when their favorites don’t make the cut for soccer’s global showpiece.

With the tournament fast approaching, several national teams will begin unveiling their rosters in the coming days. In fact, as of this writing, two countries have already made their selections public.

Which teams have confirmed their World Cup squads?

The first teams to announce their squads were among the last to qualify. On May 11, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of the Congo both confirmed their 26-man rosters for the 2026 World Cup.

What’s the deadline to announce World Cup squads?

While Bosnia and DR Congo already have their 26 players locked in, several other nations have opted not to disclose when they will release their final rosters. What is certain, however, is that all lists must be submitted to FIFA by June 2.

So far, 26 teams have set official dates to announce the players who will head to the tournament, with more expected to follow in the coming days.

Defending champions Argentina are among those that have not confirmed when they will be revealing their final squad; however, head coach Lionel Scaloni has named an initial squad headlined by Lionel Messi, who is in line to appear at a record sixth World Cup.

Mexico, USMNT among the last to announce

For Javier Aguirre, finalizing co-host Mexico’s World Cup roster has proven especially challenging. As a result, El Tri will be among the last teams to unveil its squad, with the official announcement scheduled for June 1.

The USMNT is to confirm its final roster five days before the Mexicans - but the third of the three host nations, Canada, has not revealed the timing of its squad announcement.

World Cup squad announcements - the known dates:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina: May 11
• DR Congo: May 11
• Sweden: May 12
• France: May 14
• New Zealand: May 14
• Belgium: May 15
• Ivory Coast: May 15
• Japan: May 15
• Tunisia: May 15
• South Korea: May 16
• Austria: May 18
• Brazil: May 18
• Portugal: May 19
• Switzerland: May 20
• Germany: May 21
• Morocco: May 21
• Norway: May 21
• England: May 22
• Netherlands: May 25
• Spain: May 25
• Panama: May 26
• USMNT: May 26
• Colombia: May 29
• Australia: June 1
• Croatia: June 1
• Mexico: June 1

When does the 2026 World Cup kick off?

The 23rd edition of the tournament, the 2026 World Cup is due to begin on June 11, when Mexico and South Africa play the event’s opening game at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

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