The 2026 World Cup kicks off in less than a month, which means the 48 national team coaches are busy finalizing their rosters.
FIFA required all the teams to submit a provisional squad of 35 to 55 players by May 11, and the final 26-man roster is due June 1, though many coaches will announce theirs before that date.
Haiti, France, Sweden and Belgium are among the teams that already made their final rosters public.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti will reveal his roster on Monday at a special event at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. The most pressing question is whether superstar Neymar, who was named to the preliminary list, will make the final cut after a lengthy knee injury.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 games, has not been called up since October 2023, when he suffered an ACL injury. Almost three years later, after working his way back with Brazilian club Santos, there is a good chance he will make a return to the national team.
Other teams scheduled to announce their rosters before June 1 include Portugal (May 19), Germany (May 21), Morocco (May 21), England (May 22), and Spain (May 25). U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino will unveil his squad May 26 at 3 p.m. during a fan celebration in New York City that will be broadcast live on FOX Sports.
Haiti manager Sebastian Migne on Friday announced the roster for the country’s first appearance at the tournament since 1974. The team will train in Port St. Lucie from May 24 to June 8, with friendlies June 2 against New Zealand at Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale stadium and June 5 against Peru at Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium in Miami.
The Haitian team plays its World Cup opener June 13 against Scotland in Boston, then faces Brazil June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco June 24 in Atlanta.
“This is a special moment for the players. Playing at a World Cup is the supreme reward for their work,” Migne said during a virtual press conference hosted by the Haitian Football Federation. “It is a symbolic moment before any major competition, especially a World Cup long-awaited by Haiti after 52 years of absence.”
Midfielder Woodensky Pierre from Haiti’s Violette Athletic Club is the only domestic-based player on the squad. The rest play abroad, mainly in France, Belgium, England, Portugal, Canada and the United States.
MLS Haitian players include Midfielder Danley Jean-Jacques (Philadelphia Union), forward Don Deedson Louicius (Dallas FC) and forward Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC). USL players are defender Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks) and midfielder Carl Fred Sainte (El Paso Locomotive).
Haiti is the only team in World Cup history to qualify without any home matches. Gang violence and political instability on the island forced all the qualifying “home” matches to be played in Curacao.
The Haitian roster includes goalkeeper and captain Johny Placide (Bastia), forward Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal), center back Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito), midfielder Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde (Wolves) and forward Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
First‑time call‑ups include midfielder Dominique Simon of Slovakian club FC Tatran Prešov, and forward Lenny Joseph of Hungary’s Ferencváros.
Here is the full Haiti squad:
Goalkeepers: Jhony Placide (Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (Sochaux), Josue Duverger (Cosmos Koblenz)
Defenders: Carlens Arcus (Angers), Wilguens Paugain (Zulte Waregem), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks), Martin Experience (Nancy), Jean-Kévin Duverne (Gent), Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito), Hannes Delcroix (Lugano), Keeto Thermoncy (Young Boys)
Midfielders: Carl Fred Sainté (El Paso Locomotive), Leverton Pierre (Vizela), Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolves), Woodensky Pierre (Violette), Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov)
Forwards: Don Deedson Louicius (FC Dallas), Josue Casimir (Auxerre), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC), Ruben Providence (Almere), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland), Yassin Fortuné (Viezla), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros)
France announces World Cup roster
France, one of the favorites to win the World Cup this summer, has a roster filled with global stars.
Coach Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus squad includes Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Desire Doue (PSG), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) and Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).
France is in Group I along with Senegal, Iraq and Norway and kick off their campaign against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 16.
Advocaat returns to manage Curacao team
Dick Advocaat, 78, will become the oldest coach in World Cup history after returning to manage the Curacao national team three months after stepping down to care for his daughter, who was ill. According to reports, her condition improved and Advocaat decided to get back on the sideline.
The Dutchman is coaching his third World Cup after leading Netherlands in 1994 and South Korea in 2006.
Curacao, which will have its team base camp in Boca Raton and train at Florida Atlantic University, is the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup with a population of 155,000. Most of the players were born and raised in the Netherlands but have Curacaoan heritage. Curacao is in Group E and will play Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast.
World Cup Store Opening in Miami Beach
South Florida soccer fans looking for World Cup merchandise are invited to the opening of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Store in Miami Beach on Monday at 1006 Lincoln Road.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:45 p.m. will feature FIFA representatives, city officials, Miami Host Committee representatives, appearances by Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Mascots (Maple the Moose, Zayu the Jaguar, Clutch the Bald Eagle), live DJ entertainment, and fan giveaways. Doors open to the public at 4 p.m.
