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With just eight days remaining before the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between co-host Mexico and South Africa, soccer fever has gripped North America. One of the most discussed topics across the continent is the availability of tickets for the 104-match tournament.
Following two matches on the opening day in Mexico on June 11, the tournament will expand to Canada and the United States. Canada will host matches in Toronto, while the United States begins its campaign against Paraguay. Most of the 48 participating nations have already announced their final squads, and the U.S. team is set to play its final pre-tournament friendly against Germany on June 6 in Chicago. Brazil, meanwhile, has arrived in New Jersey ahead of its opening match against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford.
In Canada, preparations are entering the final stages ahead of the national team’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12. Canada Soccer has officially unveiled head coach Jesse Marsch’s 26-player roster for what will be the largest FIFA World Cup in history.
Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau are expected to compete for the starting goalkeeper position, with Owen Goodman serving as the third goalkeeper. St. Clair was part of Canada’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, while Crépeau missed that tournament because of injury.
The Canadian defense will be led by captain Alphonso Davies, who is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury. Marsch has indicated that Davies may not be available for the tournament opener. The defensive unit also includes fullbacks Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Niko Sigur, along with central defenders Moïse Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Alfie Jones and Joel Waterman.
Canada’s midfield features vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné, Jonathan Osorio, Nathan Saliba and Mathieu Choinière. They are supported by wide players Tajon Buchanan, Ali Ahmed, Jacob Shaffelburg, Liam Millar and Marcelo Flores. Up front, Canada will rely on its two all-time leading scorers, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, with support from Tani Oluwaseyi and Promise David.
Thirteen members of the squad were also part of Canada’s roster at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Osorio, at 33, is both the oldest player on the team and the most experienced, with 89 international appearances. He is one of five players in their 30s, while six members of the squad are 23 years old or younger.
Canada’s final preparations include friendly matches against Uzbekistan in Edmonton and the Republic of Ireland in Montreal. Following its opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada will travel to Vancouver for group-stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
The tournament marks Canada’s second consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance after a 36-year absence from the competition. Although Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal in Qatar in 2022, the national team is still seeking its first World Cup point.
According to FIFA, the publication of the final squad lists underscores the historic scale of the 2026 tournament. Featuring 48 teams, 1,248 players and 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and the United States, the competition represents a major milestone for international football, expanding opportunities for more nations, players and supporters than ever before.
FIFA noted that 357 players are returning after previously being named to at least one World Cup squad, while 891 players will make their tournament debuts. The squad lists also highlight a significant generational range, with Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43 years and 162 days, the oldest player selected, and Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, the youngest. Twenty-two players under the age of 20 and seven players aged 40 or older are eligible to compete, while 22 former World Cup winners are returning to the global stage.
The expanded format has also created opportunities for several nations to make their World Cup debuts. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will participate in the tournament for the first time, reflecting FIFA’s efforts to broaden representation in the global game. Uzbekistan’s qualification has attracted particular attention, with rising talents such as Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov expected to play a key role. Other young players to watch include France’s Warren Zaïre-Emery, New Zealand’s Finn Surman and Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss.
Among the tournament’s most notable storylines is the continued presence of some of football’s biggest stars. Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are all set to participate in their sixth FIFA World Cup, extending their remarkable international careers.
FIFA said the final squad lists reflect the increasingly global nature of professional football, with 449 clubs from 71 countries represented across the tournament. The rosters also highlight contrasting approaches to team building. While Qatar and Saudi Arabia rely almost entirely on domestically based players, nations such as Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Senegal and Uruguay have assembled squads made up entirely of players competing abroad.
On the sidelines, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz is set to make history by coaching in his fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup, having previously led Portugal and Iran across four straight tournaments. FIFA noted that he becomes only the second coach to achieve five consecutive World Cup appearances, joining Bora Milutinović.
“The confirmed squad lists embody what makes the tournament truly unique — a celebration of excellence, diversity and global unity through football.”
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