The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered a new phase after FIFA officially released the final squad lists for the tournament, confirming a record 1,248 players across 48 national teams.

The expanded competition, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will be the largest World Cup ever staged, featuring 104 matches and more participating nations than any previous edition.

Messi and Ronaldo set for historic milestone

Among the biggest storylines is the inclusion of football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are both set to make history by appearing in their sixth FIFA World Cup.

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is also on course for a sixth World Cup campaign, placing him alongside the sport’s most enduring international stars.

New faces and new nations

While several football icons return, the tournament will also introduce a new generation of talent.

A total of 891 players are preparing for their first World Cup appearance, while 357 have previously been named in at least one tournament squad.

Four countries — Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — will make their World Cup debuts, reflecting the broader opportunities created by the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams.

Youngest and oldest players

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon enters the tournament as the oldest player selected at 43 years old, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora is the youngest squad member at just 17.

The final lists include 22 players under the age of 20 and seven players aged 40 or above when the tournament begins.

Truly global competition

The 1,248 selected players represent 449 clubs from 71 countries, highlighting football’s increasingly global footprint.

Some nations have leaned heavily on domestic talent. Qatar and Saudi Arabia selected 25 of their 26 players from local clubs, demonstrating the strength of their domestic leagues.

Others have taken the opposite approach. Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Senegal and Uruguay have chosen squads made up entirely of players based overseas.

World Cup set for new era

With 48 teams, 104 matches and a record number of players, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be the most expansive edition in the tournament’s history.

The final squad announcements now set the stage for a month-long celebration of football, where established superstars, emerging talents and debut nations will all compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

The UAE has officially declared Monday, June 15, 2026, a public holiday for both public and private sector employees to mark the Islamic New Year 1448.

The announcement was made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, confirming a paid day off for workers across the country.

Normal working hours will resume on Tuesday, June 16.

As the holiday falls on a Monday, most employees who enjoy a Saturday-Sunday weekend will benefit from a three-day break.

For government employees in Sharjah, the holiday will create an even longer weekend. With the emirate’s four-day workweek already providing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off, the additional Monday holiday means a four-day break.

The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of a new year in the Islamic lunar calendar. It falls on the first day of Muharram, the opening month of the Hijri calendar, and is traditionally confirmed through official moon-sighting procedures.

The occasion is one of the UAE’s official public holidays and is observed by both government entities and private sector companies.

The announcement comes shortly after residents enjoyed the longest holiday period of the year during Eid Al Adha.

Earlier this month, government employees benefited from an extended nine-day break, while many private sector workers received up to six days off.

With June 15 now confirmed as a public holiday, UAE residents have another long weekend to look forward to before the summer holiday season gets underway.

India’s Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu delivered one of the standout moments of Norway Chess 2026, defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second consecutive time and keeping himself firmly in contention for the title.

Round eight in Oslo proved pivotal, with two decisive classical victories reshaping the leaderboard heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa held his ground in a closely fought contest before capitalising on Carlsen’s time pressure late in the game. The Indian grandmaster seized his opportunity with precision, converting his advantage into a memorable victory over the hometown favourite.

The result keeps Praggnanandhaa within touching distance of the leaders and adds another chapter to his growing rivalry with the world’s top-ranked player.

Firouzja closes gap on Wesley So

Elsewhere, Alireza Firouzja boosted his title hopes with an important classical win over reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

The French-Iranian star handled a tense endgame confidently and emerged victorious after both players faced severe time pressure. The win moves Firouzja to just one point behind tournament leader Wesley So.

Meanwhile, So maintained his lead after drawing his classical game against Vincent Keymer before securing additional points in the Armageddon tiebreak.

Updated standings

With one round remaining, the battle for first place remains wide open:

• Wesley So – 14 points
• Alireza Firouzja – 13 points
• Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu – 12 points

Assaubayeva strengthens grip

In Norway Chess Women, Bibisara Assaubayeva took a major step towards the title with a crucial victory over Divya Deshmukh.

Playing with the black pieces, the Kazakh star weathered early pressure before turning the tables as her opponent ran low on time. The win extends her lead at the top of the standings.

Zhu Jiner also enjoyed a successful day, defeating Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun to move level with Divya in the race for second place.

Meanwhile, Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru shared the points in classical play before Humpy claimed the extra Armageddon point.

Norway Chess women’s standings

• Bibisara Assaubayeva – 15.5 points
• Anna Muzychuk – 10.5 points
• Divya Deshmukh – 10 points
• Zhu Jiner – 10 points

With the tournament entering its final stretch, both events remain finely poised, setting up an exciting finish in Oslo.