Tag: FIFA World Cup 2026

CAIRO: Egypt have included star forward Mohamed Salah in their preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the Liverpool attacker set to lead the Pharaohs at football’s biggest stage next month.

The 33-year-old, who is expected to leave Liverpool FC at the end of the season after a successful nine-year spell, headlines a 27-man squad announced by head coach Hossam Hassan ahead of the tournament in North America.

Salah, Egypt’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, has netted 67 goals in 115 appearances for the national side and will once again carry the team’s hopes as they prepare for their return to the World Cup stage.

Joining him in the squad is Omar Marmoush, who enjoyed an impressive season with Manchester City, while uncapped teenage forward Hamza Abdelkarim also earned a surprise inclusion after impressing for FC Barcelona Juvenil A.

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However, there was no place for Mostafa Mohamed, with the Nantes striker omitted from the preliminary squad ahead of next month’s tournament.

Egypt are expected to trim the squad down to FIFA’s required 26 players following a friendly match against Russia national football team in Cairo on May 28.

The Pharaohs will also face Brazil in a high-profile warm-up fixture in Cleveland on June 6 as part of their preparations for the expanded 48-team World Cup.

Drawn in Group G, Egypt will open their campaign against Belgium on June 15 before taking on New Zealand and Iran later in the group stage.

Egypt preliminary squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Mohamed ⁠El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi ⁠Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna)

Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonemn (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids)

Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad ‌Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Ovideo)

Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester ‌City), ‌Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona U19)

READ: Iran to play Mali in second pre-World Cup friendly in Turkey

Iran will play Mali in a friendly match after a game against Gambia in Turkey, where it is holding its pre-World Cup training camp, the federation said.

“Iran’s national football team will face Mali on June 4 in its second friendly match of the Antalya training camp in Turkey,” the federation said in a statement carried by IRNA state news agency on Thursday.

Iran’s football team arrived in Turkey on Monday for their training camp and to complete visa applications ahead of the World Cup. The team will play a friendly against Gambia on May 29, according to the federation.

Both of Iran’s opponents are ranked well below them in the FIFA rankings; Iran are 21st, while Mali and Gambia are 52nd and Gambia, respectively.

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Once visas are granted, the Iran team will be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Iran is to compete in the tournament despite the war with the USA and Israel, which began on February 28, but a ceasefire agreement has halted hostilities since April 8.

Iran have been drawn in Group G and open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will then face Belgium in the same city, and round off their group matches against Egypt in Seattle.

Iran are seeking to reach the knockout stages for the first time, having fallen short in their previous six appearances in the World Cup finals.

READ: Rizwan likely to be dropped from ODI squad for Australia series: sources

Veteran Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka will take part in his seventh successive major international tournament after he was named in the squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old national team captain is one of five players contracted to English Premier League clubs in coach Murat Yakin’s 26-man squad.

Amongst those is Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni, the only real surprise inclusion in the squad, who has played just 45 minutes of football this season in three brief substitute appearances as he works his way back from a ruptured cruciate knee ligament.

“He’s not yet at 100 percent but he knows how we play, he knows the systems, the moves, his role,” said Yakin.

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Switzerland have reached the last 16 of the last three World Cup tournaments and the quarter-finals of the last two European Championships.

They will play warm-up matches against Jordan (May 31) and Australia (June 6), before beginning their Group B campaign against Qatar in San Francisco on June 13.

They will also play against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 18 and Canada on June 24.

Switzerland squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Marvin Keller (Young Boys), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient)

Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Real Betis), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan), Miro Muheim (Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Aurele Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luca Jaquez (Stuttgart), Eray Comert (Valencia)

Midfielders: Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Ardon Jashari (AC Milan), Michel Aebischer (Pisa), Djibril Sow (Sevilla), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Fabian Rieder (Augsburg)

Forwards: Noah Okafor (Leeds), Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest), Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Breel Embolo (Rennes), Ruben Vargas (Sevilla), Cedric Itten (Fortuna Duesseldorf)

READ: Salman Ali Agha reprimanded for breaching ICC Code of Conduct in Sylhet Test

Veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his country into the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer after coach Roberto Martinez named the 41-year-old in his squad on Tuesday.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, now at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, is set to appear at a record sixth World Cup.

Portugal and Ronaldo, the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals, have never won the competition.

Ronaldo could face former Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, who is also set to play at a sixth World Cup after leading Argentina to glory four years ago in Qatar.

The Portuguese forward avoided a three-match ban despite being sent off against the Republic of Ireland in their last qualifying match for an elbow.

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Spanish coach Martinez selected a 27-man squad with no major surprises, including Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr team-mate Joao Felix.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) stars Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos are also included, along with Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes and a contingent from Manchester City, including Bernardo Silva.

In the run-up to the tournament, Portugal will face Chile and Nigeria in friendlies before their World Cup campaign begins against DR Congo on June 17.

Portugal will also face Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K on June 23 and 27, respectively.

Portugal squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi)

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villareal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)

Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves, Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Joao Felix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG)

READ: Neymar back in Brazil squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s star forward Neymar Jr. received the loudest cheer of the evening after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his inclusion in the squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 during a gala ceremony here on Monday.

The veteran forward completed a dramatic return to the national side after nearly three years away, with his selection emerging as the biggest talking point from Brazil’s 26-man squad announcement.

Ancelotti revealed Neymar’s name shortly after confirming the selection of Matheus Cunha, triggering a huge reaction inside the venue.

As soon as the Italian coach announced “Neymar Jr.,” the crowd erupted into loud applause and chants, forcing Ancelotti to briefly pause and allow the moment to sink in.

The roar from the audience turned into an anthem-like chant of Neymar’s name as the audience celebrated the return of Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The 34-year-old attacker, who has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, had not represented his country since suffering a knee injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in 2023.

A combination of injuries and inconsistent fitness had kept Neymar out of the national setup. Ancelotti had previously left him out of Brazil’s March friendlies against France and Croatia due to fitness concerns.

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The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star is now set to feature in his fourth World Cup after previously representing Brazil in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions.

Brazil, who are chasing a record sixth World Cup crown, open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 before playing Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

Neymar joins a potent line-up of attackers that includes Barcelona striker Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

READ: Neymar back in Brazil squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Brazil superstar Neymar was handed a dramatic recall to the country’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, returning to the national team after a nearly three-year absence.

The inclusion of Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, was the biggest surprise in the 26-man squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti announced Neymar’s selection at a gala ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, with loud cheers ringing out as the veteran attacker’s call-up was confirmed.

Speculation has raged for months over whether the 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker would force his way back into the national team set-up.

The forward, a veteran of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, had not played for Brazil since suffering a knee injury during a World Cup qualifying game against Uruguay in 2023.

A mixture of injuries and poor form had left him outside the national team set-up, with Ancelotti citing concerns over his fitness after leaving him out of Brazil’s squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia.

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However, Neymar, who rejoined boyhood club Santos in January after an injury-ravaged stint in Saudi Arabia, has now earned Ancelotti’s stamp of approval for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“We monitored Neymar throughout the year and observed that, in recent times, he has been playing consistently and his physical condition has improved,” Ancelotti said. “We believe he is an important player.”

Injuries have restricted Neymar to just 15 appearances in 31 matches since his return to Santos in 2026.

Brazil, who are chasing a record sixth World Cup crown, open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 before playing Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

Neymar joins a potent line-up of attackers that includes Barcelona striker Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, said he believed the World Cup would be won by the most “resilient” team.

“The World Cup won’t be won by a perfect team — because a perfect team doesn’t exist,” he said. “It will be won by the most resilient team.”

Brazil squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo).

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

READ: Croatia names Luka Modric-led FIFA World Cup squad

Iran’s football team arrived in Turkey on Monday for a training camp and to complete visa applications ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, AFP correspondents said.

The 22 players and coaching staff in the “Team Melli” delegation flew into the Turkish resort of Antalya where they could be seen leaving the airport dressed in navy blue tracksuits.

The players were to stay several weeks before heading to the global tournament that is being co-hosted by the United States, which began bombing Iran on February 28 alongside Israel, sparking war.

The team will be based in Arizona in the United States and play all three of their group matches there in spite of the war, which has been temporarily halted by a ceasefire since April 8.

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But with negotiations in the doldrums, new weekend drone attacks on Gulf countries and fresh threats from US President Donald Trump have heightened fears that fighting could resume.

The team are hoping to play two friendlies in Antalya, including one against The Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team and is working to set up a second match.

Iran and the United States cut diplomatic ties in 1980 and the players will use their time in Turkey to complete visa applications, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.

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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic announced Monday a preliminary 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, to be led by veteran Luka Modric, the key architect of the country’s historic success in recent years.

The 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder led the nation of 3.8 million people to a second-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.

The former Real Madrid star was also key for Croatia third place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In 2023 the Balkan nation lost to Spain in the Nations League final.

But Modric sustained a cheekbone fracture after clashing heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli at the San Siro in late April, and underwent a surgery.

The former Ballon d’Or winner was expected to be out of action for between six to eight weeks but should be free to play in the upcoming World Cup, a source told AFP at the time.

“He’s training with a (facial) mask and doing well. Maybe this break helped him,” Dalic told reporters in Zagreb.

“We’ll see his condition, but I don’t doubt him, he’ll be in good form”.

Croatia’s defence was also weakened due to leg fracture of Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol in January that sidelined him for months.

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“We hope he’ll be ready to play,” Dalic said adding that the 24-year-old will be given chances in the warm-up matches to build up his form for the tournament, which kicks off June 11.

“We expect him to be a major boost for us in the US.”

Commenting on his expectations from the tournament, Croatia’s most succesful coach, who took over in 2017, stressed the first goal was to get “through a tough group”.

“We have quality, youth, and experience… which gives me optimism.”

Croatia play their opening Group L match against England on June 17. They will later face Panama and Ghana.

During preparations for the championships they will play two friendlies at home against Belgium and Slovenia respectively.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen/DEN), Ivor Pandur (Hull City/ENG)

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City/ENG), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad/ESP), Josip Sutalo (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich/GER), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina/ITA), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland/DEN), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg/GER)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan/ITA), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City/ENG), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta/ITA), Nikola Vlasic (Torino/ITA), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad/ESP), Martin Baturina (Como/ITA), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg/GER), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan/ITA), Nikola Moro (Bologna/ITA), Toni Fruk (Rijeka)

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven/NED,) Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim/GER), Ante Budimir (Osasuna/ESP), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City/USA), Petar Musa (Dallas/USA), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg/GER)

Stand-by list: Lovro Majer (Wolsfburg/GER, Franjo Ivanovic (Benfica/POR), Dion Beljo (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Smolcic (Como/ITA), Karlo Letica (Lausanne/SUI), Luka Stojkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Adrijan Segecic (Portsmouth/ENG)

READ: Who could emerge as the breakout star of FIFA World Cup 2026?

LONDON: FIFA World Cups are where rising stars of football quickly transform into global icons.

AFP Sport looks at five of the contenders to become the game’s next superstar this year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada:

Nico Paz (Argentina)

The son of former Argentine international Pablo Paz has opted to play for the world champions in FIFA World Cup 2026 despite being born and raised in Spain.

A rising star in the Real Madrid academy, Paz has flourished over the past two years working under Cesc Fabregas since moving to Como in Italy.

Madrid are reportedly set to exercise their buyback option on the 21-year-old.

His technical ability and eye for goal from range has alerted Europe’s other top clubs.

Paz could have the daunting task of filling in for Lionel Messi with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni expected to manage the 38-year-old’s minutes during the champions’ title defense in the FIFA World Cup.

Desire Doue (France)

Doue has already lit up the biggest stage in club football, winning the man-of-the-match award and scoring twice in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan last year.

But this will be the 20-year-old’s first taste of a major international tournament.

Doue has a battle just to ensure he starts for Les Bleus among a dazzling display of attacking talent that includes Kylian Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.

But Doue gave Didier Deschamps a timely reminder of his quality with his first two international goals in a 3-1 friendly win over Colombia in France’s last outing in March.

Nico O’Reilly (England)

O’Reilly, 21, has already earned the trust of Pep Guardiola to become a regular for Manchester City.

Scorer of two goals from left-back in City’s League Cup final win over Arsenal in March, O’Reilly began his career as a goalscoring midfielder.

Guardiola has harnessed his blend of height, speed and skill as an attacking weapon from deep and may have solved a problem position for England coach Thomas Tuchel in the process.

England reached the final of Euro 2024 without a natural left-back for the majority of the tournament due to Luke Shaw’s lack of fitness.

“What a player,” said Guardiola. “He has made an incredible step up and he has had a lot of minutes, but he deserves it.”

Endrick (Brazil)

A teenage prodigy who made his Palmeiras debut at 16 and was snapped up by Real Madrid before his18th birthday, Endrick’s hopes of shining at the World Cup have been rekindled by a successful loan move at French club Lyon.

Endrick burst onto the international scene by scoring the winner against England at Wembley two years ago and becoming Brazil’s youngest goalscorer since Ronaldo in the process.

Relegated behind international team-mate Vinicius Junior and Mbappe after his big move to Madrid two years ago, the 19-year-old has found his scoring touch since his switch to France in January.

Often compared to another Brazilian great Romario for his squat but powerful physique, Endrick will be hoping to recreate the former’s success in scoring five goals as Brazil won the World Cup on US soil in 1994.

Pedri (Spain)

Spain’s latest passing metronome, Pedri has proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi Hernandez for both club and country.

After first rising to prominence as an 18-year-old at Euro 2020, Pedri was key to Spain’s run to conquering Europe two years ago in Germany, but injury prevented him from featuring in the semi-finals and final.

For Barcelona, he has put his fitness troubles behind him under Hansi Flick, playing a starring role in back-to-back La Liga title triumphs over the past two seasons.

READ: Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey: media

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.

The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.

The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend, combined with threats from US President Donald Trump, raised fears of a return to fighting.

The team “departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then, the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted that Iran is welcome at the tournament, while organiser FIFA has said it will go ahead as planned and rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

The Iranian football team hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

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