A team-by-team guide to the 2026 World Cup: What to expect and who to watch

The 48 teams competing at this summer’s World Cup are making their final preparations for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They have qualified for what will be the biggest World Cup yet, expanded from the 32 teams that had competed since the 1998 edition in France, with a host of debutants and plenty of countries not regularly seen on the global stage.

Our writers have spent months watching the sides involved and compiling this guide to every country that will take the field this summer.

This article is detailed, but that also means it is long. You can search for a particular national team you would like to know more about, or jump to the group you are particularly interested in.

Group A

Mexico

(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Mexico has consistently been a World Cup participant. The last time they failed to qualify for the finals was the 1982 edition, although they did also miss out in 1990 because they were banned by FIFA. As one of the three co-hosts for 2026, they qualified automatically.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Mexico is among the more consistent qualifying nations in World Cup history. While at times they have struggled during Concacaf qualification, Mexico typically performs well at World Cups and punches above its weight. That reputation suffered a blow in 2022, though, when El Tri (pronounced “Tree”) went out of the group stage for the first time since 1978.

That was a shocking moment for them, even though Mexico has not yet advanced beyond the quarter-final stage of a World Cup. The last time they hosted, as the sole venue for a 24-team tournament in 1986, a penalty shootout defeat by West Germany in the last eight dashed their dreams of reaching the semis on home soil.

Who is the coach?

Javier Aguirre is in his third stint as Mexico head coach. The affable 66-year-old was seen as a can’t-miss hire in July after both Diego Cocca and Jaime Lozano failed to impress following the four-year cycle of Argentinian Gerardo Martino, which ended with the 2022 World Cup.

Aguirre is a former Mexico international who featured in midfield for his country at the 1986 World Cup. He has coached Mexico at two previous World Cups. In 2002 in Japan and South Korea, his side suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat by arch-rivals the United States in the round of 16. Eight years later in South Africa, Mexico was again eliminated in that first knockout round, this time 3-1 against Argentina.

How do they play?

Aguirre told reporters in September that he preferred Mexico to play in a frenetic style rather than dominate possession. While Martino prepared the team to defend with the ball, Aguirre shifted Mexico’s tactics to be more focused on quick combination play in midfield and transition moments. That style is more typical of a Mexican national team.

In winning both Concacaf’s Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments in 2025, Aguirre’s stamp on the side began to develop, but tactically Mexico tends to fall into spells of ponderous and often risk-averse football. The expectation is that pride and a home crowd will elevate them when the World Cup begins.

Who is their key player?

Midfield prodigy Gilberto Mora, 17, will grab many headlines, but Fulham striker Raul Jimenez is Mexico’s leading man heading into the World Cup. Now 34, Jimenez will be part of his fourth World Cup finals. However, in 2014, 2018 and 2022, he was not Mexico’s first-choice No 9. At that most recent tournament, he had not fully recovered from the serious head injury he suffered in 2020.

This summer Jimenez will carry Mexico’s hopes of finally breaking through in the knockout rounds. Despite the emergence of Milan centre-forward Santiago Gimenez, the 24-year-old’s elder namesake has been more clinical for Mexico during the run-up to the World Cup.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There isn’t a country at this World Cup under more pressure than Mexico. After failing to impress four years ago in Qatar, Mexican football hit rock bottom. There was little hope that this generation of players could exceed Mexico’s lofty, and often unrealistic, expectations. If the country is behind them and Aguirre’s side plays well, watch out for the co-hosts. If results don’t go Mexico’s way, the country could turn on them in a heartbeat.

What else should we know about them?

Mexico has battled back from what pundits in the country described as the darkest period in the national team’s history. They lost three consecutive regional finals to the USMNT between 2021 and 2023. It was a humbling two-year span, during which Mexico were stripped of their traditional moniker as kings of Concacaf. Mexicans hope that a home World Cup will lead to a renewed dominance in North America.

Felipe Cardenas

South Africa

(Visionhaus via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Controversially. South Africa were leading Group C in African qualifying when it was announced in September they would lose three points after fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March. The forfeit of that match, resulting instead in a 3-0 defeat, threw qualification wide open, with South Africa falling to second place, behind Benin on goal difference. Their anxiety increased when Benin won their next game and South Africa could only draw in Zimbabwe.

Yet while Nigeria beat Benin 4-0, South Africa eased past Rwanda 3-0 in the last qualifier – a sequence of results that saw Bafana Bafana through. Nigeria reached the play-offs (which they lost) at Benin’s expense.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This is South Africa’s fourth World Cup and their first since hosting the tournament in 2010. Having never made it out of the group stage, there is a confidence they might correct that unwanted record this time around. South Africa were among the favourites for AFCON, held in Morocco at the end of 2025, having finished third in the 2023 edition of the competition, but exited in the round of 16 to Cameroon. This is nevertheless an exciting, technical team, with a mix of experience and youth and there is a growing feeling inside the country they are better equipped than ever to make a mark on a global stage.

Who is the coach?

Hugo Broos will be 74 by the time he retires from management after the World Cup. He arrived in South Africa four years ago after the previous coach, Molefi Ntseki, was fired for losing to Sudan when he only needed to secure a draw to qualify for AFCON 2022 in Cameroon. Broos, a Belgian who spent most of his playing career with Anderlecht, moved into African football with clubs in Algeria before steering Cameroon to the AFCON title in 2017. Before AFCON 2025, he was reported by the United Democratic Movement (UDM) to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for using “racially coded” language following Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s decision to join Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates.

How do they play?

Bafana Bafana have a reputation for producing some of the most technically gifted footballers in Africa. Broos has delivered a side that is well-organised but fluid, usually with a 4-3-3 shape depending on availability. The core of the regular starting XI includes players mainly from Mamelodi Sundowns, the dominant force in South Africa, along with Orlando Pirates.

Who is their key player?

Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was nominated for FIFA’s Lev Yashin award in 2024 due to his penalty-saving exploits at AFCON in Ivory Coast earlier that year. But Williams is not merely a shot-stopper, his footwork helps South Africa build play from the back.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Sixteen players from a squad of 26 come from just two clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. On the same Sunday late in May, both clubs achieved historical success: Pirates won the South African Premiership for the first time since 2012, beating Sundowns (the winner of eight previous titles) by a point. A few hours later, Sundowns became the CAF Champions League winners for the first time in a decade after beating Morocco’s FAR Rabat over two legs. Both sets of players should arrive at the World Cup with plenty of confidence.

What else should we know about them?

There has been less flow of players moving from South Africa to Europe in recent times for a variety of reasons, not least more competitive pay being on offer at wealthy clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns. The rise of their rivals Orlando Pirates, however, has sharpened interest in South African talents, not least Mbokazi, who moved to Chicago Fire late in 2025. Twenty-four-year-old Oswin Appollis is another exciting option, having scored 11 goals in 28 games for the national team.

Simon Hughes

South Korea

How did they qualify?

With great ease. Sixteen matches over two group stages, 11 victories, five draws and no defeats meant South Korea coasted through qualifying, albeit Jordan were the hardest team they faced in what was a pretty favourable draw, with Iraq, Oman and China their next toughest opponents.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

South Korea remain the only Asian nation to play in a World Cup semi-final, which they managed with (some would say considerable) home advantage in 2002. They are World Cup regulars, having qualified for 11 tournaments in a row since 1986, albeit other than their semi-final high they have only progressed past the group stages on two other occasions (2010, 2022). When they did so in Qatar, it was via one of the most dramatic games of the tournament, beating Portugal in stoppage time, before losing to Brazil in the last 16.

Who is the coach?

Hong Myung-bo is a legendary figure in South Korean football. The defender played at four World Cups (1990 to 2002) and was the first Asian player to be listed for the Golden Ball award, finishing third behind Oliver Kahn and Ronaldo in 2002). After moving into management with South Korea’s youth sides, he led the country to a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, but under his watch the senior side tanked at the 2014 World Cup, failing to win a match, and Hong resigned. After winning successive K-League titles with Ulsan HD, he got a second shot as South Korea boss in 2024.

How do they play?

Well, it’s still a work in progress. Hong was hired to make South Korea more efficient, with the Korean FA wanting him to replicate how his Ulsan HD team placed an emphasis on build-up and pressing intensity, but covering less distance during matches (the federation also noted that Argentina won the 2022 World Cup despite being at the lower end for distance covered). Given they breezed through qualification, recent friendlies against tougher opponents have been used for experimentation, with Hong utilising 3-4-3 with mixed results (a 5-0 walloping by Brazil was followed up by an encouraging 2-0 victory over Paraguay).

Who is their key player?

The core of South Korea’s team remains their big names who play in Europe; Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and, when he’s fit, Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers). However, the undoubted star, leader, talisman, figurehead and poster boy, not least with this World Cup mostly taking place where he now plies his trade, is captain, record cap holder and almost record goalscorer (he needs six more to break the record) Son Heung-min. The 33-year-old plays in what will possibly be his last World Cup.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Midfield general Hwang In-beom was a doubt having missed the past two months of the season for Feyenoord, but he made the list and returned to action during a 5-0 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago in late March.

Son scored in that match, which was a relief given his LAFC dry spell (two goals in 21 matches this season) amid doubts over star names. South Korea’s squad has plenty of familiar faces, but with Son struggling, Hwang In-beom struggling for fitness, Lee lacking minutes at PSG and Hwang Hee-chan playing poorly for Wolves, there have been concerns about how ready the team will be to take on the world.

What else should we know about them?

South Korea are heading into the World Cup on the back of a tumultuous period under previous boss Jurgen Klinsmann, who was supposed to be the man to guide them to the United States (where he lives) but lasted only a year. Klinsmann was hounded out following a poor 2024 Asian Cup campaign, where the Koreans somehow scraped through to the semi-finals (having drawn with Malaysia in the group stage). It then took five months to find his successor, with internal wrangling over whether the new coach should be foreign or Korean (Jesse Marsch and Gus Poyet were among the foreign names linked).

Tim Spiers

Czech Republic

How did they qualify?

The Czech Republic qualified through the UEFA World Cup play-offs. It wasn’t easy, as they won both games on penalties after their matches against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark finished 2-2.

They earned a place in the play-offs after finishing second in UEFA qualification Group L behind Croatia. Both of their play-off games were in Prague, so they secured their place at the World Cup in front of a home crowd.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

It’s the 10th World Cup for the Czech Republic, but this is their first qualification in 20 years. Before 1993, they competed as Czechoslovakia, which also incorporated Slovakia (who did not qualify this year). Czechoslovakia were two-time runners-up in the second edition of the World Cup, in 1934, and in 1962.

Who is their coach?

Miroslav Koubek, 74, joined shortly before their play-off campaign and delivered qualification, calling it his greatest achievement. He has managed a host of Czech domestic league teams, winning the title with Viktoria Plzen in 2014-15.

How do they play?

During the play-offs, they operated with a 3-4-3 structure, but Koubek adapted their personnel based on their opposition.

One thing they played with is resilience, coming back from 2-0 down against Ireland and upsetting Denmark after their opposition controlled the game with 77 per cent possession. No team made more tackles or recoveries during UEFA qualifying than the Czech Republic.

Who is their key player?

Despite being relegated from the Premier League this season, West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek and Ladislav Krejci of Wolverhampton Wanderers are crucial for their nation.

Krejci, a versatile defender, scored in both games of the play-offs after replacing Soucek as captain.

In attack, they will rely on the powerful Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick and clinical Lyon forward Pavel Sulc.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Koubek selected 10 players from the Czech league champions Slavia Prague. Tomas Chory, who started up front against the Republic of Ireland in the play-offs, and team-mate David Doudera were called up despite being suspended and transfer-listed by Slavia after both received red cards in the abandoned Prague derby on May 9.

From rivals Sparta Prague, Hugo Sochurek, 18, was called up after becoming the youngest player to represent the nation, featuring in a warm-up game against Kosovo on May 31.

What else should we know about them?

The last time they were in the World Cup, in 2006, they had Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved, all-time Premier League clean sheet leader Petr Cech, and former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky.

Despite having Premier League pedigree, this current team does not have standout world-class talent and broke their 20-year World Cup drought through gritty performances.

Eduardo Tansley

Group B

Canada

(Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Canada return for their second World Cup in a row. They became one of the better stories of 2022 qualifying, improbably topping the CONCACAF table with a young team built on spirit and hungry up-and-comers. This time around, Canada qualified as co-hosts.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Canada’s 1986 and 2022 tournaments both ended with three losses.

In 1986, they failed to capture the nation. A team built on grit was overpowered by European opponents. With no goals, the most memorable moment saw a rooster thrown on the field during their opener against France.

Canada’s last World Cup represented promise: they deserved a win after a superb display against Belgium but lost 1-0. Alphonso Davies then scored their first World Cup goal with a soaring header. A dramatic run seemed possible, but Canada’s inexperience caught up with them in losses to Croatia and Morocco. Talent needed to be matched with shrewdness.

Who is the coach?

Jesse Marsch is in his first international head coach stint. The former MLS original is a disciple of the Red Bull system, including coaching New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig. He became the third American Premier League manager, taking charge of Leeds.

Marsch was hired to get the most out of an athletic but inexperienced squad. The gregarious coach has built on previous manager John Herdman’s cultural turnaround. Marsch has made Canada into a more aggressive outfit that does not just want to be invited to the dance. His experience has instilled belief that they should be winning World Cup games.

How do they play?

While Marsch has add tactical flexibility during the second year of his Canada tenure, they are still at their best when they are playing pacy and uncompromising full-throttle soccer. Canada are comfortable not having the ball, but are improving their creativity in possession. That could benefit them in games against intelligent sides. Marsch utilizes remarkable speed and directness from his wide players in a 4-4-2 system. Getting buy-in from players who work in drastically different club systems allows Canada to counter-attack decisively.

Who is their key player?

Alphonso Davies remains Canada’s captain and a globally-recognized star, but is nursing a hamstring injury.

Goals are hard to come by in the World Cup but for the first time, Canada has a forward playing for one of Europe’s best clubs. Jonathan David finished his first season at Juventus after five years in Lille, where he averaged one goal every 162 minutes. Canada need to score more, and David is their all-time leading goalscorer (39 goals in 77 matches). He possesses high-level intelligence to pick apart opposition defenders. Canada will hope his form and confidence are sharp.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Canada has brought a balance of youth and experience, with half of their original 26 players named having been on the 2022 World Cup squad. All of the stars are in the fold, including Davies, David and Tajon Buchanan. However, injuries have hit Canada’s squad hard: multiple players’ status for their World Cup opener are in question, including Davies and Moise Bombito.

Canada suffered their worst injury yet when attacking midfielder Marcelo Flores ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament after being named in the squad. Marsch has yet to confirm a replacement.

What else should we know about them?

In January 2017, Canada was an afterthought, ranked 120th in the world. Canada Soccer paid television stations to broadcast games. Playing in the World Cup seemed laughable.

Yet soccer has larger participation numbers among Canadian youth than any other sport (yes, including ice hockey) and we are seeing the fruits of that investment. Canada’s drastic turnaround is rarely seen in international soccer.

Now, the men’s national team enjoys one of their highest FIFA rankings (30th) and could alter the Canadian sports landscape. Not since the United States hosting in 1994 could a country benefit from the World Cup like Canada might.

Joshua Kloke

Bosnia and Herzegovina

How did they qualify?

A dramatic play-off final victory over Italy sealed a sensational qualification. Bosnia and Herzegovina had been firm outsiders for both the semi-final in Wales, which they won on penalties, and their match against four-time world champions Italy. It was just rewards after an impressive group performance, finishing second to Austria with 17 points and just one loss in eight matches.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Bosnia and Herzegovina have reached the World Cup just once before; in 2014, they failed to progress beyond the group stage after one-goal losses to Argentina and Nigeria, along with a win over Iran. That is the only major finals the nation, which declared independence in 1992, have competed in.

Who is their coach?

This is the first senior coaching role for Sergej Barbarez, a former forward who played more than 16 seasons in Germany. An outspoken and forthright figure, Barbarez generated headlines before his side’s play-off semi-final win over Wales by comments he made about Brondy head coach Steve Cooper. Barbarez said Cooper’s Welsh “roots and origins” were responsible for his decision not to play Brondby midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic in the weeks leading up to the match.

How do they play?

Under Barbarez, Bosnia and Hergezovina commonly revert to a 4-4-2 shape, designed to stay compact and organised out of possession. This system also gives the side plenty of width; Esmir Bajraktarevic, 21, has impressed for PSV Eindhoven this season, while there is plenty of excitement around 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, who has scored 11 goals this season for Red Bull Salzburg and is set to join Bayer Leverkusen in Germany this summer.

Who is their key player?

Edin Dzeko is 40, but he remains Bosnia’s talisman. The former Manchester City, Roma and Inter striker has remarkably scored at least one international goal for 20 successive years since 2007 and netted the crucial equaliser away to Wales in the play-off semi-final. A January switch to Schalke, in 2. Bundesliga, provided instant returns, with six goals in eight appearances leading into the play-offs. Of the younger generation, 23-year-old Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic has impressed in Serie A and in qualification, while versatile full-back Amar Dedic has established himself at Benfica.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Veteran striker Dzeko is one of two players remaining from Bosnia’s 2014 World Cup squad alongside Sead Kolasinac, the former Arsenal defender now at Atalanta.

Ermin Mahmic, the highly rated Austria-born midfielder, has switched allegiance to Bosnia and is immediately included in Barbarez’s squad. The 21-year-old has impressed for Czech side Slovan Liberec this season with eight goals, and may be a wildcard this summer.

Centre-back Nidal Celik is seen as one of Bosnia’s brightest young stars. The 19-year-old joined French Ligue 1 club Lens last summer, and won his first senior cap in the 0-0 draw against North Macedonia in May.

What else should we know about them?

They are football’s only international team to have qualified for a World Cup, which they did in 2014, but never for their own continental tournament: the European Championship. After finishing his playing career, head coach Barbarez spent six years as a professional poker player.

Colin Millar

Qatar

(Kareem Jafar/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

In the end the 2022 hosts ensured a second consecutive World Cup appearance in a confident manner with 10 wins from their 18 qualifying games.

They sealed their place with a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates in Doha, when even a late red card for substitute Tarek Salman and a 98th-minute opposition goal could not derail them.

That win meant they sat top of Group A in the fourth round of Asian qualification.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

In 2022 Qatar’s dream of becoming a major footballing power took a significant step as they hosted the tournament for the first time. It marked a series of firsts — the only time the World Cup has taken place in the Middle East and the only time it has not been staged during the traditional timeframe of May, June or July (to avoid the dangerous summer heat it was held in November and December).

Results did not quite match the ambitions, with three defeats in their three Group A games: although Mohammed Muntari scoring their first (and so far only) World Cup goal in the 3-1 defeat by Senegal was a highlight.

Who is the coach?

In May 2025 they unveiled former Spain, Real Madrid and West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui as their new coach.

Domestically he won the Europa league with Sevilla in 2020, and on the international front the 59-year-old guided Spain’s U19s and U21s to success in their respective age-group European Championships.

Despite taking Spain’s senior side to unbeaten qualification for Russia 2018, he did not reach the competition himself. Lopetegui was sacked two days before the tournament started, after it emerged he would take charge of Real Madrid at its conclusion.

In his new role he succeeds another Spaniard, Luis Garcia, and has won two, drawn two and lost three of his seven games so far.

The wins were pivotal to getting Qatar to the World Cup.

Now, Lopetegui feels he has unfinished business to attend to.

In October 2025, he told Spanish radio station Onda Ceros he felt that “life owed him” a World Cup appearance.

He certainly seemed to enjoy himself after the win against the UAE, breaking into a dance as his players gathered around him.

How do they play?

Under Lopetegui, Qatar have switched between 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1, with the focus on organisation and hard work off the ball.

“We have a very balanced squad with players of different playing styles,” Lopetegui told Doha News after taking over in May.

Who is their key player?

Talismanic forward Akram Afif is considered one of Qatar’s best players. He has helped them win the AFC Asian Cup twice, and in 2024 won the Best Footballer in Asia award.

Afif has played for Villarreal, becoming the first Qatari to sign for a Spanish club, and had a previous spell with Eupen in Belgium. Now he is one of the main men for club side Al Sadd in the Qatari Stars League, where he is regularly scoring and providing assists.

Last term he struck 18 goals and created 15 in 22 matches.

Previous Maroon boss Tintin Lopez (yep, another Spaniard) called Afif a “unique player” in 2024.

“Akram is a quality player who always creates the difference,” he said. “That type of player always helps the team win in moments like this, and I hope he will always be available to help us.”

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Qatar’s all-time top goalscorer Almoez Ali is in. He has scored 60 goals in 126 appearances for his country and is one of nine forwards on the final roster.

Ex-Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United defender Niall Mason, who was born in England but plays for Qatar SC, missed out, despite being in Lopetegui’s preliminary squad.

Another dual national who was included is former Marseille centre-back Lucas Mendes. The Brazilian-born 35-year-old, who plays for Al-Wakrah, took up Qatari citizenship in 2023.

What else should we know about them?

In the second half of their win over UAE in October, Lopetegui brought on 42-year-old Sebastian Soria, and the need for a more youthful aspect to their squad was not lost on the head coach.

In an interview with radio station Onda Cero, he said: “We have a fairly old squad; we played in the second half with a 42-year-old player.”

In the end, Soria missed out on selection for the tournament.

Greg O’Keeffe

Switzerland

(Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

With relative ease. They had one of the friendlier groups, but still made short work of it, going unbeaten and only conceding twice in six games. They spanked beleaguered Sweden 4-1 to all but seal their place, then completed the formalities with a low-key draw in Kosovo.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

It is pretty standard stuff to see Switzerland at World Cups these days: their last appearance in America, in 1994, was their first qualification in 28 years, but this is now their sixth tournament in a row. The only other European teams with that sort of consistency are Germany, England, France, Spain and Portugal, three of whom have won the thing in that time. That said, the consistency also extends to their relatively limited progress after qualification: the Swiss have never won a World Cup knockout game, getting out of the groups in their past three appearances, but no further.

Who is the coach?

There was a reasonably sizeable faction in Swiss football that wanted rid of Murat Yakin before Euro 2024. Uninspiring results in qualification meant patience was wearing thin, but once at the tournament they knocked out defending champions Italy and only lost to eventual finalists England on penalties. At the tournament, he was asked about his status as a sex symbol, his stylish clothes and array of funky spectacles having attracted attention. “I hope my wife isn’t listening to this,” he replied. They had a poor Nations League last year, but they did not lose a game of any description in 2025 and he will take them across the Atlantic with the nation’s confidence.

How do they play?

They are tactically flexible. The success at Euro 2024 came in a 3-4-3, but this year they have settled into a fairly standard 4-3-3, with a front line of doughty stalwart Breel Embolo, flanked by Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye and Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas. Ricardo Rodriguez — only 33 years old, a little surprising given he seems to have been around for decades — is still patrolling the left side of defence, but one fixture who will not be around this time is Yann Sommer, who retired from the international game last year.

Who is their key player?

It is still Granit Xhaka. The Swiss captain’s move to Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer might have raised a few eyebrows, but his return to the Premier League will only be good news for Yakin. He is still the glue that knits their midfield together, and at 33 this will probably be his last World Cup.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There were a few mild surprises in Yakin’s final selection, but only in relation to fringe squad players. Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni might consider himself slightly lucky to be on the plane after missing most of the seaon with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The inclusion of forward Cedric Itten also raised some eyebrows, if only because he has been an intermittent presence in the Swiss camp and got relegated from the 2.Bundesliga with Fortuna Dusseldorf this season. Stalwarts Breel Embolo, Ricardo Rodriguez and, of course, captain Xhaka are all there.

What else should we know about them?

This could be the last chance for Switzerland’s ‘golden generation’ to achieve something tangible. Yann Sommer, Fabian Schar and Xherdan Shaqiri have already retired, while you would think this would be the last World Cup, perhaps major tournament, for Xhaka, Rodriguez and Remo Freuler. There is some talent in the next generation, particularly 20-year-old Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, but the old guard have been the core of the team for so long that the next few years could be transitional.

Nick Miller

Group C

Brazil

(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Put it this way: Brazil were happier than most that FIFA expanded the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 for 2026. That raised the number of automatic qualification spots in South America to six and saved Brazilian blushes in the process: they finished fifth in the 10-team group and would be heading for an intercontinental play-off under the old system. With only eight wins from the 18 games, it is fair to say that they limped through.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Brazil helped make the World Cup what it is today, imbuing the tournament with light, style and, yes, a sizeable dose of mystique during the middle part of the 20th century. They hosted the 1950 edition, won it in 1958 and 1962, then turned up in 1970 with a team that did not so much conquer the world as charm it into wilful submission. Two further successes — in 1994 and 2002 — put Brazil out in front in the list of multiple World Cup winners.

They are still there, but the past two decades have been tough. The flameout (a 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany) at their own party in 2014 was the nadir, but they were also knocked out at the quarter-final stage in 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022. That might be acceptable for some countries, but not Brazil. Those failures have dented confidence levels and given rise to a kind of perma-inquest that shows little sign of wrapping up any time soon.

Who is the coach?

After Tite walked away at the end of the 2022 World Cup, the suits at the Brazilian federation set their sights high. They wanted a proven winner. They wanted Carlo Ancelotti, whose ability to navigate choppy waters — and manage big egos — had been so successful at Real Madrid. Ancelotti is now in the job and will lead their challenge next June and July. High-fives all round, right?

Not quite. Ancelotti only actually arrived last May after three years of flirting and faffing. In the interim, Brazil had three different coaches, all with wildly different approaches. Continuity? Never heard of it, sorry. Ancelotti has only had four competitive games so far. He will need every last drop of his nous and geniality if Brazil are to put together a good run at the World Cup.

How do they play?

Ancelotti has made two big changes since his arrival. Casemiro — previously exiled — has come back into the picture, lending the midfield more experience and defensive solidity. Up front, Vinicius Junior has been tested out in a more central position.

The shape looks likely to be a fluid 4-2-3-1 against weaker teams. That makes sense, given the abundance of attackers available. The question is whether — and how — Ancelotti will reinforce his midfield against the better sides.

Who is their key player?

Vinicius Jr. One of the major failings of the Dorival Jr era was his inability to get the best out of the Real Madrid forward. In fairness, it is a long-standing issue: Vinicius Jr has never produced on a consistent basis for Brazil. Even when he was in unstoppable form at club level, he would only flicker for his country.

Nobody seems quite sure why that is. What does seem clear is that Ancelotti has a better chance than most of solving the riddle. He knows Vinicius Jr well from their time together in Madrid and understands what makes him tick. If he can get the 25-year-old to something approaching his best and have him running at defenders in dangerous areas rather than just waiting for the ball on the wing, it will breathe life into the Brazil attack.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The big news was the inclusion of Neymar after an absence of almost three years. Now 34, he is expected to be a squad player rather than a starter; whether that tempers the usual drama that surrounds his every move is another matter, and something Ancelotti presumably thought long and hard about. Notable injury absentees include Rodrygo, Eder Miltao and Estevao, while Chelsea striker Joao Pedro was probably the most surprising omission from the final 26.

What else should we know about them?

A return to the United States, where they won the 1994 World Cup, will bring up plenty of memories, not all of them happy.

Brazil’s triumph at that tournament was, in part, a reaction to tragedy. Two months before their opening game, the team played a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in France. Their honorary guest that night was Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, one of Brazil’s most beloved sons. Senna joined the players for dinner after the match, motivating them for the challenge that awaited them in America. “He made us all believe,” goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel later said.

Eleven days after that meal, Senna died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix.

The news plunged the whole of Brazil into mourning. It fell to the country’s footballers to provide distraction and respite. When they overcame Italy on penalties in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, they raised a banner in Senna’s honour.

Jack Lang

Morocco

(MB Media via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Morocco did not break a sweat in their 2026 World Cup qualification group. They won all eight of their games, thrashing Congo and Niger 6-0 and 5-0 respectively, scoring 22 goals and only conceding two. Winning AFCON on the pitch, rather than the title being awarded to them months later because of a punishment laid down on Senegal for their conduct in that match, would have enhanced the feeling that they are the best African side and capable of lifting the trophy at this summer’s World Cup.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

In 1986, Morocco became the first African country to reach the knockout rounds of a World Cup, winning a group that contained England, Poland and Portugal. After failing to qualify for five of the next eight tournaments and making three group-stage exits when they did get there, Morocco made more World Cup history in 2022. They topped a group containing Croatia, Belgium (who had finished second and third at Russia 2018) and Canada, then eliminated Spain and Portugal in the following rounds. The fairytale ended in the semi-finals against France, but Morocco were still the first African side to go that far at a World Cup.

Who is the coach?

The mastermind behind Morocco’s 2022 World Cup was Walid Regragui, who took over from Vahid Halilhodzic only three months before that tournament began.

Reaching the semi-finals in Qatar etched Regragui’s name into the history books. He galvanised Moroccan talent to form a genuine team rather than a number of individuals. However, he became a victim of his own success. Pressure skyrocketed and there was an expectation they would win this year’s AFCON, which they hosted. After losing in wild circumstances to Senegal, there was no sympathy from the local media for Regragui as he was asked multiple times if he planned to resign. One journalist said he was responsible for making children in the stands cry.

In March, it was officially announced that Mohamed Ouahbi, who won the Under-20 World Cup with Morocco last year, would replace Regragui. Ouahbi will have only managed the senior side on a few occasions before their opening game against Brazil.

How do they play?

Morocco’s performance at Qatar 2022 was of a team organised without the ball and able to limit the opposition’s strengths.

Morocco have only played two games under Ouahbi, which is a small sample size to analyse. From what we have seen so far, there have been few changes to how they operated during Regragui’s reign.

The focus on combinations in the wide area is still present, but the team’s shape on the ball has evolved.

Under Ouahbi, Morocco have shifted from a 4-3-3 to attacking in a 3-2-4-1 shape, with right-back Achraf Hakimi in an advanced role either down the wing or in the half-space. They have a ridiculous amount of skilful wingers, including Ismael Saibari, Abde Ezzalzouli and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, who love nothing more than gliding past opponents

Due to the absence of Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane, the centre-forward role should go to Ayoub El Kaabi, whose habit of scoring overhead kicks has turned him into a viral sensation.

Who is their key player?

It is hard to point out an individual in a team that boasts Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Brahim (Real Madrid) and more.

Yet, Diaz’s switch of allegiance from Spain, where he was born, to his father’s homeland is certainly a coup considering the midfielder’s talent. Starting from a wide position or playing as an attacking midfielder, his dribbling stands out, as well as his ability to use both feet, which aids his passing and shooting. Diaz was a revelation at AFCON and deservedly won the player of the tournament award.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Adam Masina will be feeling furious. The versatile defender started five of Morocco’s games at AFCON, including the final, but has been dropped from the squad for Fulham’s Issa Diop.

Diop was capped up to under-21 level with France but switched allegiance earlier this year. En-Nesyri, who has 92 caps and scored three goals at the last World Cup, is a shock omission too.

Diop is not the only player to book a last-minute ticket for the tournament. Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, represented France U21s as recently as March.

Ouhabi has promoted a lot of young talent who won the U20 World Cup with him, including Strasbourg winger Gessime Yassine. Surprisingly, Amine Adli, Ilias Akhomach and Eliesse Ben Seghir have all been left out.

What else should we know about them?

Morocco’s squad looks talented but on closer inspection they have lost a lot of experience. Captain Romain Saiss retired earlier this year, and then there is the absence of En-Nesyri. The centre-forward has 92 caps and scored three goals at the last World Cup, including the winner in their quarter-final tie with Portugal. Nayef Aguerd is in the squad but has not played for Marseille since March 1 due to injury.

A lot of players will be making their tournament debut at a time when the expectations around this side have increased. If they lose their opening game to Brazil, there will be a lot of pressure to beat Scotland.

Ahmed Walid & Jay Harris

Haiti

(Ben Nichols/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

One of the surprises of Concacaf qualifying, Haiti finished top of Group C in its third and final round, ahead of traditional Central American powers Costa Rica, which has been at five of the past six World Cups, and Honduras, qualifiers in 2010 and 2014.

They beat Costa Rica 1-0 and then Nicaragua 2-0 in its final two group games to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be Haiti’s first visit to the men’s World Cup since 1974 and just their second ever. By qualifying, they became the first Caribbean nation to reach multiple World Cups. In that 16-team tournament in West Germany more than 50 years ago, Haiti was drawn with Poland, Argentina and Italy in the first group stage. They lost all three games, including a 7-0 defeat by the Poles, but at least scored twice through forward Emmanuel Sanon.

Who is the coach?

Sebastien Migne, a 52-year-old Frenchman, began his coaching career in Africa, and has spent much of it working in international football. A former midfielder who had a spell at London-based EFL side Leyton Orient in the 1990s, he was in charge of Congo, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea and South African club Marumo Gallants and was an assistant with Cameroon before taking the Haiti job in June 2024.

How do they play?

Against stronger teams, Haiti is happy to sit back in its own half in a defensive posture and make things difficult. They have players capable of breaking out in transition play to punish opponents. Haiti’s organized defensive structure gave the United States trouble in the group stage of this past summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, where despite holding 66 percent possession, it took a 75th-minute goal from Patrick Agyemang to make the difference in a 2-1 win. Haiti has a goal threat as well. Duckens Nazon came off the bench to score a hat-trick past Costa Rica’s longtime Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain starting goalkeeper Keylor Navas in a September qualifier to earn a crucial away point.

Who is their key player?

Long-time Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide has proved himself more than capable of keeping his country in games against bigger teams. The 37-year-old, who plays professionally in France for second-tier club Bastia, made a name for himself at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, where Haiti allowed just two goals en route to topping their group with three wins out of three, then beat Canada in the quarterfinals before losing 1-0 to Mexico in a semifinal that went to extra time. Placide made four saves in that game before Raul Jimenez’s penalty beat him. More recently, he turned in shutouts in three of Haiti’s final four qualifiers.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

All of the key players made this team, most notably Placide and Nazon, believed to be the program’s all-time leading goalscorer with 44 goals in 76 appearances, as well as dangerous attacking players Frantzdy Pierrot (Caykur Rizespor), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) and Ruben Providence (Almere City). Haiti downed New Zealand 4-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly, which shows how capable they are and that they won’t be an easy opponent for teams in the World Cup.

What else should we know about them?

Migne has managed to get Haiti back to the World Cup despite never having set foot in the country. Their home, the Stade Sylvio Cator in the capital Port-au-Prince, was overtaken by gangs in February and March 2024. The Haitian federation released a statement saying the stadium was “occupied by armed gangs”, and the national team has not played there since. The country has been enveloped by violence and Migne’s men played their home matches during qualifying in Curacao, the tiny island nation that will join them at this World Cup.

Paul Tenorio

Scotland

(Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Predictably, in the most dramatic fashion possible. A first-half disaster-class away in Greece meant they looked destined for the play-off spot but Denmark fluffed their lines, drawing at home against Belarus. It resulted in an epic decider in Glasgow. An overhead kick and two stoppage-time wonder strikes — one a 25-yard curler, the other from just inside their own half — meant Scotland emerged with a 4-2 victory to top the group.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This century? None at all. The last time Scotland featured was in 1998, when they almost snatched a draw in the opening game against Brazil but ultimately fell short.

Scotland have made eight World Cups but have never progressed from the group stage and never won more than a single game. It was under Ally MacLeod in 1978 that hopes were at their highest and they did beat eventual finalists the Netherlands 3-2, but it proved futile and they went out in the group stage. Four years later they were eliminated at the same stage.

Reaching the knockout rounds has to be the aim this time, given their poor showings at the last two European Championships — two points from six games, scoring only three goals.

Who is the coach?

Steve Clarke, who has a strong claim to be the best manager in the nation’s history. Celtic great Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown led Scotland to major tournaments but Clarke is the first man to take the country to three. After ending a 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance, he has forged a belief and togetherness that had been missing from the Tartan Army for years.

A pragmatist who did well at West Bromwich Albion in England before excelling at Kilmarnock in Scotland, his no-nonsense demeanour belies a manager who has made the camp feel like a club environment the players look forward to being a part of.

How do they play?

This is the pivotal question that needs answering if Scotland are not going to just make up the numbers. Clarke settled on a back-five system that provided a stable base to build on and hid their weaknesses at centre-back and on the wings.

The struggle to control matches against teams of a similar level has been their issue, though. Clarke has switched to a back four and the addition of Bournemouth’s Ben Doak on the right wing has added much-needed pace. Scotland still struggle to break teams down, though, and can often lack direction in possession when it comes to big games. They remain a team who look best in a high-energy press and when they play forward quickly, but when they lack control they can look messy. Clarke has hinted at a return to two strikers.

Who is their key player?

Scott McTominay. Former manager Alex McLeish convinced him to pledge allegiance to his father’s homeland in 2018 rather than wait for an England call-up. His decision has been emphatically vindicated.

McTominay has blossomed from a functional midfielder to a box-crashing attacker at Napoli, inspiring them to the Serie A title in 2024-25 but he owes a great deal of that transformation to Scotland. Having been used in central defence at times, Clarke identified that his best attributes were his athleticism and finishing ability. His move into the final third of the pitch has elevated the entire team. After just one goal in his first 37 caps, he now has 13 in his past 32 and is in the nation’s top 10 all-time goalscorers.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Billy Gilmour is missing, having suffered a knee injury at the cruellest time. A day before the squad flew out to Miami, he was forced off against Curacao and a scan revealed that his World Cup was over. It is personally heartbreaking but also detrimental to Scotland’s hopes of playing with a more controlled style. Scotland do not have another playmaker as press-resistant as him.

Manchester United’s under-21 player of the year Tyler Fletcher, the son of former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, has been drafted in as his replacement despite only 17 minutes of senior experience.

The squad is still badly imbalanced in terms of where quality is concentrated. Both full-back positions and central midfield are blessed with multiple options who play at the top level but at centre-back and centre-forward, Scotland look short. Clarke has picked five out-and-out strikers, however, and has hinted at playing two up top to help the team occupy the opposition defence. Rangers’ 19-year-old winger Findlay Curtis could be a wildcard on the wing.

What else should we know about them?

They could well have a quadragenarian in goal, who stands to be the second-oldest man to play at a World Cup. Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon turns 43 on December 31, meaning only Essam El Hadary’s appearance for Egypt in 2018 at the age of 45 years and 161 days will beat him. Angus Gunn had the Scotland jersey but his injury meant Gordon was called upon for the final two crunch qualifiers.

Having not played a single game all season, he stepped up once again. His career has been defined by repeatedly defying the odds, recovering from an arm break and anterior cruciate ligament surgery that saw him spend two years out of the game from 2012. His latest international resurrection comes after a year out with a double leg break. With 34 clean sheets in 84 caps, you would not bet against him keeping the shirt for a bit longer yet.

Jordan Campbell

Group D

USMNT

(David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament, a young group got the U.S. back to the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. There was no jeopardy during this cycle for the team, however, as the U.S. qualified automatically for the tournament as co-hosts.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

The U.S. ended their streak of qualifying for every tournament since 1990 when they missed out on the 2018 tournament. The country’s best showing in modern times was a run to the quarter-finals in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, before falling 1-0 to eventual runners-up Germany.

The Americans have advanced past the group stage in four of the six tournaments in which they have competed since 1994. That includes 2022, where the core that still makes up this team finished second in the group behind England, but lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16.

Who is the coach?

Mauricio Pochettino established himself as one of the top coaches at club level with successful stints at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Now, he is testing himself on the international stage. It was considered a coup for U.S. Soccer when it hired the Argentine in September 2024. It was a bumpy first year under Pochettino, who said he saw it necessary to remake the culture of the program, but his hire signaled both the ambition and expectation around the U.S. team as it hosts the tournament for the first time in 32 years.

How do they play?

The U.S. are still figuring themselves out under Pochettino, but in the past few months, they have settled on a system that will use three centre-backs and rely on flexibility out of that formation to test opponents. The U.S. will build out with a three-man backline and defend out of a four. On the attacking end, the formation highlights the strengths of the outside backs in the pool, including Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest, who like to bomb forward, while leaving some flexibility in midfield to match up with opponents.

Who is their key player?

Christian Pulisic. As much as we can talk about the emergence of Folarin Balogun at the No 9, or how Robinson and Dest create overloads on the wings, or how critical Tyler Adams is patrolling the midfield, the U.S. are at their best when the Milan attacker is running the show. Pulisic is a big-game player — his goal against Iran to send the U.S. through to the knockouts in 2022 is a good example — and whether attacking from the wing or as a No 10, Pochettino’s job is to ensure Pulisic can change games for the U.S.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There were some surprises, including leaving out Tanner Tessmann (Lyon) and Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), but including five center-backs and “swing” players like Alex Freeman and Joe Scally indicate the U.S. plans to be tactically fluid and get a formation on the field that can attack from its strengths, with the potential to play Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman together. Keep an eye on Freeman as a potential breakout player at this World Cup.

What else should we know about them?

This will likely be the first U.S. World Cup team since MLS was founded in 1996 to have an MLS-based goalkeeper start a game — but, less than a year out, it is not clear-cut who the No 1 will be. The goalkeepers since 1998: Kasey Keller (Leicester City and Borussia Monchengladbach), Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers), Tim Howard (Everton) and Matt Turner (Arsenal). Turner had only just moved to Arsenal ahead of Qatar, but he is now back in MLS with New England and fighting for the starting spot against Matt Freese (NYCFC), who looks to be Pochettino’s starter, and third-string option Chris Brady (Chicago Fire).

Paul Tenorio

Paraguay

(Masashi Hara/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Pretty comfortably in the end, eight points clear of Bolivia who finished in the play-off spot, and level on points with Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia on 28 points from 18 games. Only Ecuador conceded fewer goals in South American qualifying, an indication of their defensive organisation and grit.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be Paraguay’s ninth appearance at the World Cup after a long 16 years away. That was their best run in the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by eventual champions Spain in 2010.

They were one of the 13 teams to compete in the first World Cup in 1930, and will host a game at the 2030 edition in celebration of the tournament’s centenary.

Who is the coach?

Gustavo Alfaro, a new national hero.

The 63-year-old was in the dugout for Ecuador at the last World Cup, but he has since taken over at Paraguay after they crashed out of the Copa America in 2024, failing to pick up a single point in the competition for the first time in 99 years. The turnaround under the new boss has been remarkable, winning 24 points from a possible 36 in World Cup qualifying, with just one competitive defeat, a narrow 1-0 loss to Brazil, to his name.

Alfaro went viral in Paraguay earlier this year after cameras captured a greengrocer approaching him and breaking down in tears at a supermarket in Asuncion. “Thank you for giving us another chance to go to the World Cup,” he said. Alfaro recalled the incident at a press conference, and invited the fan to their 1-0 win over Chile the following month.

How do they play?

Paraguay already had a reputation as one of the stingier South American sides, but since Alfaro took over in August 2024, they have kept seven clean sheets and conceded just seven goals in 12 competitive games. Famous home wins over world champions Argentina and Brazil, averaging just 23 and 29 per cent of the ball in each, showed them at their stubborn best.

The team is anchored on towering centre-backs; Gustavo Gomez is the long-standing captain of Brazilian giants Palmeiras, while Omar Alderete has impressed since joining Premier League side Sunderland. The midfield is packed with tough-tacklers and willing runners, while there are flashes of excitement out on the wings, with the rapid Ramon Sosa and the ever-inventive Julio Enciso looking to provide the inspiration on the break.

Who is their key player?

Defensive pillars aside, Enciso is that one player who possesses the ability and drive in attack to win games by himself. He took 14 shots and created six chances in just three games during their dismal Copa America 2024 showing, playing an active part in almost half of Paraguay’s attempts on goal.

Fizzing with energy, the 21-year-old can overdo it at times; former national team coach Daniel Garnero told Enciso that he does not always need to “save” the team or “take charge of every moment” after a 4-1 defeat by Brazil in that same tournament. That said, he is able to strike the ball magnificently from distance — winning the Premier League goal of the season award in 2022-23 — and remains the most likely to blow a cagey contest apart.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There were few surprises from Alfaro, and nor should there have been, given the team’s strong form in competitive action. Box-to-box midfielders Damian Bobadilla and Diego Gomez bring combative defensive work and well-timed runs into the box, while Andres Cubas is a more defensive option in midfield, having taken just 19 touches in the attacking penalty area for Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS across the past five years.

It will not be easy for any of their Group D opponents — Australia, Turkey, or the USMNT — to break through.

What else should we know about them?

Some familiar names are still plying their trade in domestic football. Remarkably, 44-year-old Roque Santa Cruz is still scoring goals for capital side Club Libertad, but Oscar Cardozo, now 42, retired in April, having played for the national side as recently as November 2023.

Santa Cruz did not receive the call for the World Cup, but Newcastle United fans will be glad to hear that Miguel Almiron has featured in 11 of Paraguay’s last 12 competitive games.

Look out, too, for the promising Gomez, who scored four sensational goals for Brighton & Hove Albion in a League Cup tie at Barnsley this season.

Thom Harris

Australia

(Steve Christo/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Entering straight into the second round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification, Australia won all six matches — but then started the decisive third stage with a 1-0 defeat at home against Bahrain and a 0-0 draw in Indonesia. Those failures led to Graham Arnold’s resignation as head coach and Tony Popovic’s appointment. Australia then earned four points against Japan before beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 to secure the second automatic qualification spot in Group C.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be Australia’s seventh World Cup and sixth consecutive appearance. The last five have come since Football Australia switched from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) the AFC in 2006, a move partially made to help Australia avoid a qualification path usually ended by a final play-off against South American opposition. It also ensured a higher standard of regular competition between World Cups. Australia have won four of their 20 finals matches, advancing to the round of 16 twice (2006 and 2022). In Germany, they lost 1-0 to 10-man Italy after a Francesco Totti penalty in stoppage time, and 16 years later in Qatar, it was a plucky 2-1 defeat against eventual winners Argentina.

Who is the coach?

Popovic has been in the hot seat since September 2024 and it has been going well. The former centre-back’s playing career was notable for the five years he spent at Crystal Palace, where he became club captain before departing for Qatari side Al-Arabi in 2006. He earned 58 caps for Australia, scoring eight goals, including one in a 3-1 friendly win over England at Upton Park in 2003. His managerial career has included short spells in Greece and Turkey, but Popovic has primarily operated in Australia’s A-League, where he led Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory to their sole titles. Popovic has been integral to Australia’s improvement.

How do they play?

There was a sense of adventure from Australia in Qatar under Arnold, with a 4-3-3 formation that committed players forward and wide, and sought to feed Mitchell Duke at every opportunity. Arnold was sure Australia could win the 2023 Asian Cup, but an extra-time defeat against South Korea in the quarter-finals was devastating. Arnold resigned not long after, saying the team needed a fresh voice.

That voice exudes pragmatism. Australia love a low block under Popovic and while results have improved, the disjointed nature of ball progression through a 3-4-2-1 formation often made performances uninspiring. Since qualification was secured, Popovic has opted for a 5-4-1 that has looked even more passive, but there has been better fluidity on the counter, too, showing clear development in play and an awareness of what they could face come the summer.

Who is their key player?

It has been an injury-hit run for Jackson Irvine, but the St Pauli captain remains crucial to Australia’s midfield and he is missed when he does not figure. That has been the case in recent months after foot surgery. He is a de facto leader of the group off the pitch, as he illustrated by being one of few players to question Qatar’s record on LGBTQI+ rights before the 2022 World Cup. Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos, 22, is among the talented young players to catch the eye.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The future looks bright. There are some young stars with high ceilings at this World Cup, including Watford winger Nestory Irankunda, 20, and Norwich City striker Mo Toure, 22, while Jordan Bos, 23, has become an important young leader for his country, as well as impressing at a Feyenoord side that has qualified for next season’s Champions League. The majority of the squad got together for their pre-tournament camp in Florida in mid-May, and there is every chance Popovic will have used the extra time to create one of the better functioning, more cohesive teams at the finals.

What else should we know about them?

No surprises the Australia men’s team — known as the Socceroos — have a rivalry with New Zealand. There is also a bit of edge when they face Japan, arising since Australia joined them in the AFC. But how about their friction with Uruguay? It stems from 1974, when the countries met for friendly matches in Melbourne and Sydney to prepare for that summer’s World Cup, Australia’s first appearance in the finals. Physicality, punches and threats of abandonment from the referee set the tone, while the effects of what Australian coach Rale Rasic called “a karate chop” from Uruguay’s Luis Garisto later left Ray Baartz unconscious in hospital for two days and forced to retire from football. Subsequent meetings have been more respectful, thankfully.

Michael Bailey

Turkey

How did they qualify?

Turkey lost only one qualifier, to Spain in September, but that meant they needed to go via the play-offs.

They beat Romania 1-0 in a home semi-final, then won 1-0 in Kosovo to book their place at the World Cup.

Turkey may have been big favourites for that game — they are 55 places higher in the FIFA rankings and had beaten Kosovo in their all three of their previous meetings — but they had to contend with the intense home support at a noisy Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.

Vincenzo Montella’s team had greater experience and depth, though, and it was enough to steer them through.

They had finished Group E in second place on 13 points, just three behind winners Spain.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

It has been a long wait for Turkey to get back to the tournament in which they memorably finished third in 2002.

That victory over South Korea in Daegu should have acted as a springboard for them to feature regularly at the World Cup.

Instead, 24 years have passed without qualification and a litany of near-misses and play-off disappointments.

Securing their place at this summer’s tournament is a boost for the nation and this talented generation of players.

Who is their coach?

Former Italy striker and Milan manager Montella took over in 2023. He replaced German Stefan Kuntz, and resurrected a struggling campaign to qualify for Euro 2024.

Montella guided Turkey to the quarter-finals in Berlin, where they lost narrowly to the Netherlands.

His restorative spell in the dugout so far has made him popular with both players and supporters.

He even says his affinity for the nation has made him feel like a native. “The culture that raised me and the culture I encountered in Turkey are incredibly similar,” he said. “I can think like a Turk. I eat like a Turk. I act like a Turk. That’s why I feel like a Turk.”

How do they play?

Montella’s Turkey usually play in a 4-2-3-1 formation and have developed a discipline that blends the flair of some of their exciting young players with defensive nous.

They had to dig in for their 1-0 semi-final win over Romania and have missed their injured defensive lynchpin Merih Demiral.

But they have quality in every position and Montella has developed a style that allows that to produce winning football, with 17 victories in his 30 games,

Who is their key player?

It is the experience and tempo-setting of Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu that makes everything tick in midfield. In front of the 32-year-old may be much younger talents, such as Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, but the captain Calhanoglu is key to their controlled, structured performances.

He suffered from cramp against Romania after a typically pivotal display, but reassured worried fans afterwards. If they are to shine in the summer, Turkey will need Calhanoglu firing on all cylinders.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Montella delivered a squad with no surprises, but a healthy contingent of exciting young attackers. Fresh from being given the Champions League Revelation of the Season award to recognise his performances in the most recent competition, 21-year-old Guler is the star name. His two goals and four assists helped Real Madrid to the quarter-final stage.

Yildiz will join him in the U.S., as will promising Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Can Uzun.

He may not have played many Premier League matches for Manchester United last term, but goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is also in the squad.

What else should we know about them?

At Euro 2024, they were second only to hosts Germany in terms of support, due to the huge Turkish diaspora in the host nation, where an estimated 2.9 million claim Turkish heritage.

They may be well supported in the United States this summer too. American census data says most U.S. citizens of Turkish descent live in New York state and California — both host areas.

Greg O’Keeffe

Group E

Germany

(Marvin Ibo Guengoer/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

With more difficulty than they might have done. They eventually came through what looked like a simple group (containing Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg), but only after a dismal 2-0 defeat in Bratislava.

They got over the line eventually and were impressive in the final-day victory over group rivals Slovakia. That meant they avoided the play-offs and progressed automatically, but this was no tour de force.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Historically, formidable. Recently? Not so much.

They are four-time (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014) World Cup winners, but were eliminated in the group stage in the past two tournaments, in 2018 and 2022. True, the squad depth was not quite what it had once been on both occasions, with significant shortages at key positions — in central defence and at centre-forward — but it was still galling under-performance and close to a national disgrace each time.

To place that in context, from 1962 to 2014, Germany had an unbroken record of at least reaching the quarter-final, making them arguably the most consistent of all the great powers in international football.

Who is the coach?

Julian Nagelsmann. Famously, he was head coach of Hoffenheim at just 28, before moving to RB Leipzig in 2019 and then onto an ill-fated, 18-month spell with Bayern Munich in 2022.

Coaching the national team has softened the public’s perception of Nagelsmann. Seen as aloof and angry during his time in club football, his revival of Germany has made him more popular — and human. His tearful press conference following the team’s quarter-final exit to Spain at Euro 2024 showed a side that was previously not thought to exist.

That being said, this has been a far from perfect build-up. 2025 has been a relatively bad year, including an ugly semi-final defeat by Portugal during the Nations League finals, staged in Munich, and hard work was made of what looked a simple World Cup qualifying group. Nagelsmann has evolved Germany, certainly, but the pace of that growth has slowed in recent months.

How do they play?

Germany are a high-pressing, technical side who are at their best when they move the ball quickly, vertically and into the feet of their two world-class playmakers: Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. Their full-backs, likely to be Joshua Kimmich and David Raum, like to drift in-field and play from more central positions, helping to create all sorts of numerical mismatches, and their midfield pivot, Aleksandar Pavlovic, has the chance to become one of the finest orchestrators of his era.

At the top of the pitch, expect a lot of interchange and fluidity. Kai Havertz has recovered from injury to lead a front three, which will also include Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, and how well that dynamic functions will determine how much progress this team can make.

Who is their key player?

Bayern Munich’s Musiala, who is among the very best players in the world. A crafty, skilful No 10, Musiala will be one of the two attacking midfielders (alongside Wirtz) who will play behind Havertz.

It is complicated, though, because Musiala suffered a terrible ankle injury during the Club World Cup last summer and while he returned to competitive action at the beginning of the year, is yet to rediscover his rhythm. He will need to find it, quickly.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There are few surprises, but Nagelsmann has deferred to reputation over form in a few areas. The inclusion of Leroy Sane, who has so often frustrated for the national team, came at the expense of Said El Mala of Koln and Chris Fuhrich of Stuttgart and was not in any way popular. Leon Goretzka making the final squad ahead of Tom Bischof has not been received warmly, either.

Sadly, there is no Lennart Karl, who was included but had to withdraw with a thigh injury. The Bayern Munich 18-year-old had the potential to be a legitimate wildcard.

What else should we know about them?

Germany being Germany, there must always be drama — and 2026 brought plenty in the form of a goalkeeping debate.

Manuel Neuer retired after Euro 2024, leaving Oliver Baumann to emerge as a new first choice and the German media to, inevitably, spend the next two years speculating that the Bayern Munich icon — one of the great players of all time — would eventually reverse that decision. Neuer resisted and was completely dismissive of the rumours. As was Nagelsmann, who was adamant that Baumann was his No.1 for the World Cup.

But three weeks before the tournament, Neuer completed his retirement u-turn and he, not Baumann, will be first choice this summer.

In doing so, Neuer — who turned 40 in March — will also become the oldest player in the history of the German national team, breaking a two-decade old record held by Lothar Matthaus.

Seb Stafford-Bloor

Curacao

(Tim Warner/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

By topping their final Concacaf group, ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda. They drew 0-0 on a dramatic November night in Kingston to seal progression, prompting Steve McClaren’s resignation as Jamaica head coach. Curacao made it through qualification unbeaten, winning seven and drawing three of 10 games across two phases.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

None whatsoever. Curacao, a tiny island in the Caribbean of around 185,000 people, will become the smallest nation ever at a World Cup, beating Iceland’s previous record of 350,000 in 2018. Having been the Netherlands Antilles since 1954, Curacao came into being in their current form as a football team only in 2011, playing the Dominican Republic in their first official FIFA international.

They had not come close to qualifying for a World Cup before now. In trying to reach the 2014 edition, they failed to make it past the first group phase, finishing third out of four behind Antigua & Barbuda and Haiti. Four years later, they got through two rounds of preliminaries but were knocked out 2-0 on aggregate by El Salvador in a tie to decide who would be in Concacaf’s opening group stage, and they won their initial pool, containing nations including Guatemala and Cuba, on the road to Qatar 2022 before losing 2-1 to Panama on aggregate in a play-off to advance to the final group stage.

Who is the coach?

Dick Advocaat. At 78 years old, the Dutchman has enjoyed what will surely be his final crack at taking a team to the biggest tournament on the planet. He will be going to his third World Cup, having led his homeland the last time the World Cup came to the U.S. in 1994. He also managed South Korea at the 2006 edition. He guided Russia at the 2014 European Championship, too. So a major tournament in each of the past four decades.

It looked as though he might miss out this time, stepping down earlier this year to care for his daughter. But in May it was announced he would return to lead the team this summer.

Curacao is Advocaat’s 28th managerial job. He called up their football federation’s president Gilbert Martina in 2023 when he heard they were looking for a big-name boss and had been turned down by his countrymen Louis van Gaal and Bert van Marwijk.

How do they play?

Curacao’s squad is made up of players developed in the Dutch system, and their style fits accordingly — a 4-3-3 setup. They like to keep possession and build from the back where possible and, although this is easier said than done on some of the pitches used in the Caribbean nations, they scored some goals of real quality and synergy in qualifying.

Advocaat has added a winning edge, even if the team lost March friendlies to China and Australia while Dutchman Fred Rutten was in charge. “There is only a short time (at international camp), but a lot of players have been together for a long time,” Juninho Bacuna, a key member of the side, told The Athletic. “We have one big family and if you’re one big family outside the pitch, you will connect on the pitch. Everyone knows Dick, he is a good coach. The change with him is he has a big presence with himself, in front of a group. On the pitch, it’s more like, ‘We need to get a result’.”

Who is their key player?

Leandro Bacuna is Curacao’s captain and record appearance-maker, earning his 68th cap in that decider against Jamaica. He typically operates on the right side of their three-man midfield, with his younger brother Juninho on the left. Though he is 34 and now plays in the Turkish second division, his technique as a former Premier League player for Aston Villa is clear. He can carry the ball forward well and has a knack for sensing opportunities to attack.

Tahith Chong of Sheffield United in England’s second-tier Championship, a rarity in Advocaat’s squads of someone who was actually born in Curacao, came into the team for the September internationals, scoring twice and setting up another in his first start against Bermuda. A winger, Chong was injured for the remaining four qualifying matches but is fit for the World Cup and the former Manchester United academy player — who made 16 senior appearances for them in 2019 and 2020 — could be a real asset.

What else should we know about them?

Curacao aggressively pursued a recruitment drive for players with national heritage, tapping into the Dutch connection, as a former Netherlands colony. That extended to management. Dutchmen Guus Huddink and Patrick Kluivert have coached their team in the past.

“It was a long way,” Martina says. “This journey started back in 2004 with the former president of the federation, Jean Francisco, who said, ‘We can qualify because we have the players’. That’s when the idea started to acquire the players playing abroad, because before that it was with the local players who were not professional. From that moment, we have seen an enormous growth in the team.”

Laurie Whitwell

Ivory Coast

How did they qualify?

With confidence. Ivory Coast, along with Senegal, were the first two African nations to reach the World Cup, having finished their group unbeaten without conceding a goal in 10 games. Only Morocco and Tunisia had a better record in CAF qualifying. Since sealing a passage to the United States, Ivory Coast were eliminated at the 2025 AFCON at the quarter-final stage following a 3-2 defeat by Egypt.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Despite being the joint fourth most successful country in the history of AFCON, Ivory Coast have not made it out of the groups on the three occasions they have qualified for the World Cup. There is a pattern to their record in the competition, having featured in three tournaments in a row from 2006 onwards. On each occasion, they have finished third: initially behind Argentina and the Netherlands but above Serbia, then in 2010 behind Brazil and Portugal but above North Korea, and most recently in 2014 behind Colombia and Greece but above Japan. After missing out altogether to Morocco in 2018, they met the same fate four years later, with Cameroon progressing at their expense.

Who is the coach?

Emerse Fae’s entry into international management was sensational. As host of the 2023 AFCON, Ivory Coast were facing elimination and needing favours from other nations to qualify from the group stages after suffering the worst home defeat in their history, a 4-0 hammering by Equatorial Guinea. The result led to Jean-Louis Gasset’s sacking and Fae’s promotion from under-23 level in the middle of the tournament. Fae, a former Reading midfielder, inspired the team to the final, where they were crowned champions after beating Nigeria, 2-1.

How do they play?

With 25 goals, Ivory Coast scored more times than any other nation in CAF qualifying but this is not a team that relies on just one player for potency. Their leading scorer, midfielder Seko Fofana, managed just three goals, while eight other players registered twice. The record suggests Ivory Coast, who have tended to use a 4-3-3 formation, pose an unpredictable threat but they also have depth, especially in wide areas.

Who is their key player?

Franck Kessie did not shine during a short spell at Barcelona but at 28, the captain is the team’s reference point from midfield. Meanwhile, Ivorians are getting excited about the development of 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande, who joined RB Leipzig in Germany from Spanish side Leganes for €20m (£18m/$23m) in the summer. He has since been touted as a potential target for Liverpool.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Ivory Coast named four Premier League players but there was no room for former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who now plays for MLS side Charlotte. In his place is uncapped 22-year-old Ange-Yoan Bonny of Inter, who only became eligible last month after previously representing France Under-21s.

What else should we know about them?

The squad that travels to the United States does not include any players based in the domestic league. Football players have become one of Ivory Coast’s greatest exports, with the bulk of the squad that represented the country in qualifying stationed at top clubs in England, Germany, Italy and France.

Simon Hughes

Ecuador

How did they qualify?

Ecuador finished second in South American qualifying, above Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. They booked their place at the World Cup last June — a solid achievement whichever way you cut it, but doubly impressive because they actually started their campaign with a three-point penalty for filing irregular paperwork for one of their players in the 2022 World Cup cycle.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Ecuador only appeared in the finals for the first time in 2002, decades after comparable countries, including Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay and Chile, had done so. They went out in the group stage that year, much as they did in 2014 and 2022. They failed to qualify in 2010 and 2018.

Fans cling to two things. The first is the memory of 2006, when Luis Fernando Suarez led ‘La Tri’ to the round of 16, courtesy of group-stage wins over Poland and Costa Rica. Second is that Ecuador have never crashed and burned at this level — they won a match in each of their three group-stage exits.

Who is the coach?

If you flick on the television at this tournament and see a tracksuited man whose DNA appears to be half Claudio Caniggia and half Iggy Pop, you will know Ecuador are playing. That man will be Sebastian Beccacece, the 44-year-old Argentinian who took the job in August 2024.

Beccacece never played professional football. He was a youth coach until a fateful meeting in 2002 with countryman Jorge Sampaoli, who was a relative unknown at that stage, but has gone on to become one of South America’s most prominent managers. Beccacece served as his assistant for years, going to two World Cups in the process — 2014 with Chile and 2018 with Argentina.

His CV as a solo artist is less eye-catching. It surprised some when he was chosen to replace Felix Sanchez in 2024 and he is not universally popular despite the World Cup qualification success.

How do they play?

If you love thrills and spills, you have come to the wrong place. Ecuador’s success over the past couple of years has been constructed upon a foundation of defensive solidity and grit. Remarkably, they conceded just five goals in 18 qualifiers.

Beccacece is not an intrinsically negative manager; the talent in the squad just skews strongly towards the back. Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie are elite defenders. Joel Ordonez is not too far behind. Moises Caicedo does the work of two men in front of the back four. You can understand why they are so miserly.

The issue is at the other end. Before beating Argentina 1-0 in September, Ecuador had recorded four straight 0-0 draws. Bolivia and Venezuela outscored them in qualifying. There is talent there — Gonzalo Plata and Kendry Paez have the capacity to excite — but not a huge amount of cutting edge.

Who is their key player?

Caicedo is the best player in the squad, perhaps the first genuinely world-class Ecuadorian footballer. It is Enner Valencia, though, who probably holds La Tri’s tournament hopes in his hands.

Nearly 14 years on from his Ecuador debut, the striker is not just the focal point of the attack; he is also pretty much the only guy in the squad who knows where the goal is. The drop-off from his tally of 49 international goals to second place (Plata, eight) is extreme. Felix Torres is third on the list and he is a centre-back.

The good news is that Valencia, broadly speaking, bears the responsibility well. He also has a happy habit of rising to big occasions: he scored three times at the 2014 World Cup and matched that number in Qatar in 2022. Now 36, he will know that this will be his last chance to shine at this level.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Anthony Valencia was a classic late bolter: the 22-year-old spent much of the World Cup cycle battling injury but worked his way back, scored in the friendly win over Saudi Arabia and snuck into Beccacece’s squad. Elsewhere, it’s pretty much as you would expect. The only vaguely notable absentee is backup striker Leonardo Campana, who ruled himself out with fitness issues in May.

What else should we know about them?

In Paez, Ecuador have one of South America’s most interesting young players. The playmaker broke into Independiente del Valle’s first team at 15, was a regular for his country by 17 and, in June 2023, agreed a deal that would take him to Chelsea after his 18th birthday.

The consensus view in Ecuador is that Paez is a player of rare technical quality, yet his story has been clouded by whispers about his attitude. He was at the centre of a media storm in March 2024, when he and Ecuador team-mates were pictured in a New York nightclub on the eve of a friendly against Italy. A similar story played out again later that year, leading to a public rebuke from Beccacece.

Paez has yet to play for Chelsea. A loan spell at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg was not especially fruitful. He is back in South America, on loan at River Plate in Argentina, but has not been a regular starter. Will the prospect of making his mark at a World Cup capture his imagination? He may not make Beccacece’s first-choice XI, but he could be a brilliant wildcard.

Jack Lang

Group F

Netherlands

(Rene Nijhuis/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

The Netherlands were unbeaten during their qualifying campaign, topping a group containing Poland, Finland, Malta and Lithuania. They had to wait until the final round to secure their spot at the World Cup, pipping runners-up Poland thanks to a comfortable 4-0 win over Lithuania. Having missed out on the 2018 competition, there were encouraging signs they are back to their best.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Losing finalists on three occasions, the Netherlands may be the greatest footballing nation never to have won the trophy. The legendary figure of Johan Cruyff still casts a heavy shadow over the Dutch national team, and there is still a desire for the team to play in a manner comparable to the Total Football principles that made Dutch football famous.

Opinion was split when they nearly triumphed at the 2010 World Cup playing un-Cruyffian football. The Dutch want to win — especially over Germany — but they also want to make art.

Who is the coach?

Ronald Koeman is the current boss, returning in January 2023 for his second stint in charge after Louis van Gaal’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar 2022. He is a curious manager when it comes to tactics and his methods are most effective when he works with speedy wingers.

How do they play?

They are a touch too reliant on record goalscorer (and now assist leader) Memphis Depay up front, but this is the strongest crop of Dutch players for at least half a decade. Koeman has built a squad that priorities functionality over creative freedom. They defend well, try not to overcommit when attacking and very often ask something from a wide player crashing the back post to get a goal.

The right-back/right-wing-back Denzel Dumfries can be their surprise element when looking for a goal, and when they eventually go ahead, they can defend in a fashion not too dissimilar to Gareth Southgate’s England or Fernando Santos’ Portugal sides. This is a team that is fun to watch when they get the first goal, but can look stodgy in the periods they don’t have the lead.

Who is their key player?

Premier League viewers will be well-acquainted with the majority of the Dutch squad, with Koeman typically fielding at least six starters from England’s top flight. Captain remains at his imperious best, but it is Frenkie de Jong who could provide the X factor in this team. A uniquely skilled midfielder and one of the best footballers in the world at carrying the ball between the penalty boxes, a good De Jong performance typically leads to a swashbuckling Dutch display.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Koeman appeared to prioritise seniority over meritocracy with his final squad, deciding to leave Feyenoord’s Luciano Valente and AZ’s Kees Smit at home. The pair are perhaps the best young talents emerging from the Eredivisie, but Koeman favoured the more defensively-minded Marten de Roon and Quinten Timber. Donyell Malen enjoyed an excellent six-month loan spell at Roma as a centre-forward, but will likely play as a right-winger at the World Cup, as Koeman decided against bringing Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong to the tournament.

What else should we know about them?

Where did the Dutch passers go? Koeman is likely to attempt a midfield trio of De Jong, Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders. All excellent players, but all better known for their press-resistant ball carrying than their eye for a killer pass.

The prototypical Dutch midfielder moves differently from those found 20 years ago. That might have something to do with the limited number of Ajax players within the squad. The biggest club in the Netherlands have not won a league title since 2021-22 and are in something of a transitional period.

Carl Anka

Japan

How did they qualify?

Outside the three co-hosts’ automatic qualification, Japan were the first nation to reach the 2026 World Cup. Dominant in Asian qualifying, they progressed from a second-phase group including Saudi Arabia and Australia with three games to spare, losing just once across 16 matches.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Having reached every edition of the tournament since making their debut in 1998, the next great frontier in Japanese men’s football is to reach a quarter-final.

There are signs that this is coming. In 2018, they were 2-0 up after an hour against Belgium’s golden generation in the round of 16 before conceding a devastating stoppage-time winner. Four years later, they beat Spain and Germany in the tournament’s group of death but lost on penalties to knockout-phase specialists Croatia following a 1-1 draw in the last 16.

On both occasions, they lost to eventual semi-finalists in matches where they were largely the better side — and next year’s team will include several members of that squad from Qatar 2022 who are now in their prime.

Who is the coach?

Hajime Moriyasu has been a stalwart in Japanese football’s recent success. An assistant to Akira Nishino in 2018 before taking over the top job after that World Cup in Russia, he also made 35 appearances for Japan between 1992 and 1996 as a midfielder.

One of the secrets behind Moriyasu’s success with this generation has been his dual role as both an age-group and senior coach. Manager of the under-23 side between 2017 and 2021, he balanced both jobs for three years, coaching many of the national team’s current players throughout their youth career.

Ritsu Doan, Ao Tanaka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Takefusa Kubo and Kaoru Mitoma all made their senior debuts under Moriyasu, as well as playing for him with the under-23s — it underscores their tight-knit history.

How do they play?

In a word? Quickly.

They are very flexible in terms of formations — often switching between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, though in recent matches a 3-4-3 has become the norm — but certain principles are non-negotiable.

Traditionally, Japan press relentlessly and move the ball at speed, particularly against inferior opposition. Boasting both outstanding wide players and technicality in midfield, Moriyasu’s side are consistently able to circulate the ball through opposition pressure to give their attackers one-vs-one opportunities on the edge of the box.

Against the world’s top sides, however, there is increasing evidence that they are developing one of international football’s most dangerous transitional games, helped by the domestic J-League becoming increasingly physical, as well as the fluidity and two-footedness of their front three — beating Spain with this style at that 2022 World Cup.

Who is their key player?

Part of Japanese football’s evolution has been their depth — with Moriyasu rotating widely over the past two years.

Now, rather than needing to rely on one creative focal point — a role which Keisuke Honda, Hidetoshi Nakata and Shinji Kagawa have fulfilled in the past — the likes of Doan, Kubo and Mitoma are all capable of shouldering the load.

The depth of their, well, width, means Mitoma’s absence through injury will not be as keenly felt as it otherwise might have been, with wide attackers probably the most competitive area of the squad.

The one player they arguably lack an immediate replacement for is captain Wataru Endo — especially with Sporting CP’s Hidemasa Morita not selected — with the Liverpool midfielder’s ability to both win duels and cover large central areas allowing their front line to press high out of possession. His issues with an ankle injury this season are concerning for Japan’s hopes.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

They are stacked with strikers, with Moriyasu naming four specialists in his 26-man squad — Koki Ogawa, Ayase Ueda, Kento Shiogai and Keisuke Goto. These allow him to play in a multitude of different ways — especially when making in-game adjustments.

Feyenoord forward Ueda, the Eredivisie’s top scorer this season (25 goals in 31 games), is likely to be first-choice. He started against Iceland in Japan’s only World Cup warm-up, helping his nation to a sixth successive win.

However, it was Ogawa who scored the winner in that game. His top skill is linking play, with the 28-year-old repeatedly trusted by Moriyasu throughout qualifying — it would not be a shock at all to see him start against the Netherlands.

Among the younger options, 21-year-old Goto is the squad’s target man, while 21-year-old Shiogai is relentless defensively, and an impressive poacher.

What else should we know about them?

Japan used 65 players across 13 matches in 2025 — rotation does not begin to cover it.

As a comparison, England used just 37 under Thomas Tuchel in 10 games, while the United States used 56 — but spread across a mammoth 18 matches.

With qualification secured so early, Moriyasu took the opportunity to cast his eyes over a huge group of players in preparation for this World Cup. The trade-off behind this unprecedented depth is the question of whether his first-choice XI have had enough game time together before the matches start to matter this month — but having played as a collective group for five years already, the gamble appears one worth making.

Jacob Whitehead

Sweden

How did they qualify?

In somewhat peculiar circumstances.

Sweden didn’t win any of their six initial qualification games, but having finished top of their Nations League C group in 2024, still progressed to the play-offs. Seeded to play away from home, they were handed a contest against Ukraine — which meant a match in a neutral venue, Spain. Sweden defeated Ukraine 3-1 thanks to a Viktor Gyokeres hat-trick, before Gyokeres smashed home the winner in a dramatic 3-2 win over Poland in Stockholm, sealing an improbable place at the World Cup.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Aside from the eight sides that have won the World Cup, and three-times finalists the Netherlands, Sweden probably have the next-best World Cup record. They finished fourth in 1938, and then third in 1950 — a particularly impressive achievement as, at this stage, Sweden weren’t selecting footballers who played abroad, and therefore were competing without their best players.

They reversed that policy prior to hosting the tournament in 1958, when they battled through to the final before losing to the legendary Brazil side that featured a 17-year-old Pele. The last time North America hosted a World Cup, they finished third, having lost 1-0 to eventual winners Brazil in the semi-finals. Their most recent appearance was a run to the quarter-finals in 2018.

Who is their coach?

Englishman Graham Potter made his name with Swedish side Ostersund, taking them from the lower divisions in Sweden to the Europa League. That earned Potter a job back home in the second tier with Swansea City, before moving onto Brighton & Hove Albion and then enduring difficult periods in charge of both Chelsea and West Ham United. He returned to Sweden when he succeeded the unpopular Danish manager Jon Dahl Tomasson last year, initially on a short-term deal, then signed a four-year contract shortly before Sweden’s play-off success. He feels at home in Sweden, and is considered something of an adopted Swede.

How do they play?

At this point, it’s difficult to be sure. Potter is known for favouring open, possession-based football. But this is slightly at odds with Sweden’s traditional approach, and for his four matches in charge so far, Potter has been hugely compromised by injuries — he hasn’t yet been able to play Dejan Kulusevski or Alexander Isak. The play-offs were about getting the job done, with the use of a three-man defence and a reliance on the counter-attack.

Who is their key player?

With Kulusevski out injured and having not played for a year, it’s Isak. He had a difficult first season with Liverpool, missing four months with a broken leg, and fitting both him and Gyokeres in the same side against strong opposition has proved a problem for Sweden in recent years. But unlike many other nations at this tournament, Sweden’s strongest area is in the final third.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Aside from the absence of Kulusevski, the main story was the absence of both Roony Bardghji and Williot Swedberg. This leaves Sweden with a lack of wingers and indicates Potter is likely to use a three-man defence. The addition of Ken Sema, an old Potter favourite from his Ostersund days, suggests he knows his starting XI and wants his backups to be reliable characters.

What else should we know about them?

This is considered the best generation Sweden have produced for a long time. Isak and Gyokeres are regulars at two of Europe’s biggest clubs. Yasin Ayari and Lucas Bergvall are hugely talented young midfielders. There are some weaknesses in defence, but if this side comes together, they could be brilliant.

Michael Cox

Tunisia

(Lars Baron/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Tunisia topped Group H in the African qualifiers, winning nine matches, drawing once and not conceding a single goal. It was a pretty straightforward qualification process, particularly as they have not been at their best in recent years.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Tunisia became the first African side to win a World Cup match when they made their debut in 1978 but they have never managed to eclipse that moment.

Since 1998, Tunisia have been regulars at the World Cup, only missing out on the 2010 and 2014 editions. However, they have never got further than the group stage and only managed three wins in their 18 matches across the six times they have qualified.

In 2022, Tunisia were mathematically into the round of 16 when Wahbi Khazri put them ahead in the second half of their final group match against France, but that only lasted two minutes – in the other game in Group D, Mathew Leckie’s goal for Australia against Denmark meant both teams won 1-0, which sent Tunisia home.

Who is the coach?

Sami Trabelsi returned for an unsuccessful second spell managing the national team last year.

Between March 2011 and February 2013, he guided Tunisia to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, but a group-stage exit in the following year’s edition resulted in his resignation.

Trabelsi lasted less than 12 months on this occasion and was sacked the day after Tunisia were eliminated from this year’s AFCON. He has been replaced by former Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi. The 54-year-old was born in France to Tunisian parents and represented Marseille, Monaco and Inter Milan during his career.

How do they play?

Tunisia’s defence is the foundation of most of their victories. In the qualifying rounds they kept clean sheets in all 10 games, and four of their nine wins were by a single goal.

Attacking-wise, they are not the most expansive side, mainly depending on a moment of brilliance from one of their forwards, such as Elias Achouri.

Who is their key player?

Hannibal Mejbri has endured a difficult season with Burnley in the Premier League but Tunisia’s hopes rest on his shoulders. The 23-year-old midfielder looked like the only player capable of progressing the ball and producing something creative during their meek performances at AFCON.

There will be a lot of pressure on Copenhagen striker Elias Achouri, who has only scored five goals in 36 appearances this season, and Celtic’s Sebastien Tounekti to provide firepower.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Lamouchi has named two youngsters in the squad who only made their senior debuts for Tunisia this year. Stade Tunisien winger Khalil Ayari, 21, has spent the past season on loan with PSG’s academy, while Rayan Elloumi, 18, grew up in Canada and has made eight appearances in MLS for Vancouver Whitecaps.

Omar Rekik has been called up after representing Tunisia for the first time in four years in the March international break. Rekik spent time in the academies of PSV, Manchester City, Marseille and Arsenal but the 24-year-old defender is playing for Slovenian side Maribor. Rani Khedira, the younger brother of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner Sami, has been included after switching his international allegiance earlier this year.

Lamouchi is clearly looking towards the future as he excluded Ferjani Sassi. The 34-year-old midfielder captained Tunisia at this year’s AFCON and has made the third-most appearances in their history. Yassine Meriah, who has 95 caps, has also been left out.

What else should we know about them?

During the 2023 edition of AFCON (which was held at the beginning of 2024), Trabelsi worked as a pundit on beIN Sports, critiquing the Tunisian team and suggesting solutions to the issues they faced as they went out after the group stage without winning a match and scoring only one goal. It turns out he did not have the answers as they crashed out of this year’s AFCON in the round of 16 via a penalty shootout defeat by Mali.

Tunisia’s head coach seat is usually a pretty hot one. The longest-serving manager in their history is Roger Lemerre, who guided Tunisia to their only AFCON triumph in 2004, four years after winning the European Championship as France boss. Lemerre had the role for almost six years, but Faouzi Benzarti’s less-than-four-month spell last year and Trabelsi’s brief stint is a fairer reflection. Lamouchi has his work cut out to turn this into a long-lasting relationship.

Ahmed Walid and Jay Harris

Group G

Belgium

(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

With relative ease. Despite two draws against North Macedonia and another with Kazakhstan delaying the inevitable, Belgium still went unbeaten across their eight games.

It was never going to be a tough group for Belgium, given it’s been a decade since they last lost a World Cup or European Championship qualifying game. That defeat came against Wales, but the Belgians paid them back in this qualification competition. The Welsh were their closest challengers for top spot, and will be in the UEFA play-offs in March, but got beaten 4-3 and then 4-2 in the two meetings.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Belgium first made a dent in a World Cup in 1986, finishing fourth. Argentina’s Diego Maradona prevented them reaching the final but Enzo Scifo was named the young player of the tournament, before helping them get out of the group stage again four years later.

It was not until the 2014 World Cup that Belgium were considered a powerful nation once more but they lost to Argentina again in the quarter-finals that year and then at Russia 2018, when they were among the favourites, they lost to eventual champions France beat them in the semi-finals. Both 1-0 defeats were seen as missed opportunities for a team of such quality. Belgium’s failure to make it out of the group in 2022 was widely regarded as the end of that chapter for a golden generation of players who had grown old together.

Who is the coach?

Rudi Garcia. The Frenchman took over in January from Domenico Tedesco, who failed to build on Roberto Martinez’s six-year tenure, half of which they spent in first place in the FIFA world rankings.

Garcia, who oversaw a 4-3 aggregate play-off victory against Ukraine in March to keep Belgium in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League, made his name in club management by winning the French title with Lille in 2011 and finishing second in Italy’s Serie A twice with Roma in 2014 and 2015. Known for his attractive style of play, he also took Lyon to the Champions League semi-finals in 2020 by beating Manchester City but his star has faded in recent years after Napoli’s form dropped off after he was appointed in summer 2023.

The 61-year-old Frenchman’s previous role had been at Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, but the two parties mutually parted ways after 10 months with the team trailing Al Ittihad in the table and reports of an uneasy relationship between Garcia and star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

How do they play?

Garcia has stuck with a 4-3-3 shape so far, in contrast with Tedesco’s regular switches of formation. Right-back Thomas Meunier has praised how he has breathed fresh optimism into the group with a major focus on possession and counter-pressing. Garcia has been bold in giving opportunities to several new faces, including Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin and Club Brugge full-back Joaquin Seys.

Other defenders, such as Sporting CP’s Zeno Debast, Koni De Winter of Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Maxim De Cuyper are taking on the mantle left by the ‘golden generation’ back line featuring Vincent Kompany, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen. Garcia is blessed in terms of his wide options. Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere and Alexis Saelemaekers offer variety in attack, but it is Doku who is emerging as the key threat.

Who is their key player?

Doku. The 23-year-old Manchester City winger has taken a step up at club level this season and looks to be taking on more responsibility with Belgium, too. He started all eight games during qualification, scoring five goals and assisting three, as he switched between the left and right flanks. Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, once he returns from the serious hamstring injury suffered in late October, could still be their talisman with his passing vision but is slowing down at 34 (he’ll turn 35 during the World Cup). Doku is the player Belgium look to feed most often now, because of his unrivalled one-v-one ability.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Garcia has left out a lot of talented players. Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia, Anderlecht’s 17-year-old breakout star Nathan De Cat, Marseille’s Arthur Vermeeren and Parma’s Mandela Keita all missed out on a midfield position, with 37-year-old Axel Witsel being preferred.

Other prominent attackers also missed out, with neither Lyon’s Malick Fofana nor RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda making the cut. But the most shocking omission of all was Ajax creator Mika Godts. The 20-year-old registered 32 goals and assists in 44 club games this season but was overlooked. 

Interestingly, in the 2-0 warm-up victory over Croatia, Garcia continued with De Ketelaere as a more dynamic focal point, with Romelu Lukaku on the bench.

What else should we know about them?

They have Thibaut Courtois back in goal after his controversial refusal to play under Tedesco. The Real Madrid goalkeeper fell out with their previous manager and said in August 2024 that he would not add to his then total of 102 caps as long as he remained in the job. Fortunately for Courtois, he only had to wait just over six months and was brought back into the fold post-Euros after talks with new coach Garcia. However, Belgium have had internal problems previously, with big-name players such as De Bruyne and Vertonghen clashing at the last World Cup over the midfielder’s comments about their ageing defence.

Jordan Campbell

Egypt

(NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Egypt did not lose a single game in Group A in the African qualifiers, winning eight and drawing twice.

However, they only confirmed their qualification in October, by topping the group after beating Djibouti 3-0 with two goals from Mohamed Salah.

Burkina Faso were tailing them throughout the qualifiers, but the 0-0 draw between the sides in Ouagadougou in September maintained Egypt’s five-point gap and solidified their status at the top of the group.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Despite being the first Arab and African nation to participate in the World Cup, in 1934, Egypt has never won a match at the tournament.

Granted, they only qualified two times after that, in 1990 and 2018, with World Cup qualification being a hoodoo in the period in between. Egypt were pitted in the group of death in the 2002 and 2006 qualifiers, lost a tie-breaker against Algeria in 2009, and broke down against Ghana in the play-off round of the 2014 qualifiers.

The 2018 edition was a disappointment, with Salah entering the tournament injured and the team losing their three matches in the group stage.

Who is the coach?

The legendary striker, Hossam Hassan.

The three-time AFCON winner is one of the best centre-forwards in Egypt’s history. He holds the record for the most goals scored for the national team (69) and is only bettered by Ahmed Hassan (no relation) in terms of the number of appearances. His goalscoring record is in jeopardy, however. Salah was on 67 goals ahead of Egypt’s friendly matches in May.

Hassan, who played in the 1990 World Cup, won numerous domestic trophies alongside the CAF Champions League in 2002 with Zamalek.

However, he had to cross the biggest divide in Egyptian football to join Zamalek. As a young player, Hassan was brought up through Al Ahly’s youth ranks, and went on to become one of the best players in the club’s history.

His managerial career has mainly been inside Egypt, apart from a brief spell with Jordan’s national team in 2013-14.

How do they play?

Hassan is not wedded to one formation. Though Egypt largely used a 4-3-3 shape in qualifying, with Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush flanking the front line, during AFCON he switched to a 5-3-2 shape, using a man-to-man press, deep blocks and hitting the opposition with pace on the counter-attack. In more recent friendlies, Hassan has used a back four against Saudi Arabia and Spain.

Who is their key player?

The man needs no introduction.

Salah has been the key player in Egypt’s national team for many years now, and unlike other Egyptian legends, he has not played with the strongest of squads.

Despite that, he managed to guide Egypt to the 2018 World Cup, ending the country’s 28-year wait to appear at the finals. However, the Liverpool forward’s shoulder injury in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid affected the national team going into the tournament.

Then, his penalty miss in the shootout in the play-off round against Senegal in 2022 harmed Egypt’s chance of reaching the 2022 World Cup.

In 2026, he will be hoping to help open a new page in his country’s World Cup history.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

One surprise is the selection of Hamza Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old who left Al Ahly in January after making just one appearance, for Barcelona, where he has so far spent time with the B team. He made his debut for the national team during the 1-0 win over Russia on May 28.

Al Ahly, one of Egypt’s two big clubs beside Zamalek, have the greatest representation in the squad with eight players.

What else should we know about them?

Salah is in position to surpass his head coach as the top goalscorer in Egypt’s history.

He is on 67 goals – two away from Hassan. Yet, it would be a greater achievement if Salah can couple that with winning helping Egypt reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Ahmed Walid

Iran

(Markus Gillar/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

There were a few bumps along the way and some unconvincing performances, but ultimately Iran made it through without too many alarms and with two games to spare — their only defeat of the entire 16-match, two-round qualifying campaign came against Qatar, after safe passage had already been sealed.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be their fourth World Cup in a row, meaning they will have now participated in more tournaments since 2014 than in their entire history before that. Iran are yet to make it past the group stage, though, with their best performance coming in 2018, when they dramatically beat Morocco and drew with Portugal but a narrow defeat by Spain kept them from the knockouts. Last time, they were comfortably beaten by England and the United States, their only success coming thanks to goals in the 98th and 101st minutes against a Wales side down to 10 men by that stage.

Who is the coach?

This will be their first World Cup since 2006 without Carlos Queiroz in the dugout, his successor Amir Ghalenoei having taken over for a second spell in charge following that 2022 World Cup. On paper, Ghalenoei’s record is pretty good: qualification was relatively straightforward and his win percentage is up in the 70s. But there is plenty of dissatisfaction with his approach, not least that he still relies on the old guard — players in their thirties such as Alireza Jahanbakhsh and former Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos.

How do they play?

Do not expect attractive, expansive football. Under Queiroz, they were very solid: no frills, two banks of four with a couple of forwards, which will be Mehdi Taremi and one other. It largely worked, and it continues to work in terms of results, but there has been a desire to offer something slightly more interesting and attacking, which in theory should have come with a younger generation of players emerging, but neither has really materialised.

Who is their key player?

It is still probably Taremi, now scoring goals for Greek champions Olympiacos after a season in Italy with Inter. It will be fascinating to see how they deal with Jahanbakhsh if he does not find a club before the tournament starts. On talent, he would still probably be in their strongest team, but surely they cannot pick someone who, by the time Iran’s first group game kicks off in June, will not have played club football for over a year. In terms of young talent, watch out for midfielder Mohammad Hosseinnejad and striker Kasra Taheri.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Sardar Azmoun’s absence from Iran’s final 26-man squad wasn’t a surprise, given he was omitted from their preliminary group, but it’s notable nonetheless, because it’s seemingly not for football reasons.

Azmoun, who plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates, posted a picture of himself meeting Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: given the antipathy between Iran and the UAE, this was interpreted in some places as a sign of disloyalty and he was dropped. Azmoun has had a tricky season with injuries and form, but it seems implausible that a 31-year-old with 57 international goals, eight of which came in qualifying, would be left out for footballing reasons.

The most notable inclusion is German-born forward Dennis Eckert, who switched allegiances to Iran so recently that he had not made his international debut when the squad was named.

What else should we know about them?

Of all the teams at the tournament who will have to deal with outside distractions, Iran surely have the most. The issue of how many of their fans will even be allowed into the United States to watch their games is something that will run and run from now until the whole thing starts in June. And also remember that at the previous World Cup three years ago, Iran’s players protested against the repression of protests back home. Will all of that be too much for them to actually perform as they can?

Nick Miller

New Zealand

(Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Since Australia became Asian for footballing purposes ahead of South Africa 2010, New Zealand are the game’s big hitters in Oceania. A bye into the second stage of that confederation’s qualifying competition for the side now ranked 85th in the world by FIFA, was followed by three wins from three, 19 goals scored and one conceded as New Zealand breezed past Tahiti, Vanuatu and Samoa. A 7-0 thrashing of Fiji in a third-phase semi-final and then a 3-0 defeat of New Caledonia sealed their World Cup place at a canter.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Modest. This will be New Zealand’s third appearance at the finals, though each has represented progress of various kinds. Their debut came in 1982, the first edition that was expanded from 16 teams to 24. It started with New Zealand’s first World Cup goals, coming in a 5-2 opening defeat by Scotland. Their group-stage exit was sealed by defeats to the Soviet Union (3-0) and Brazil (4-0). Then in 2010, Winston Reid’s stoppage-time equaliser against Slovakia gave them their first World Cup point. They also led a match in the finals for the first time, during a 1-1 draw against Italy, before finishing third in their four-team group after a goalless draw with Paraguay. New Zealand were the only team to finish that South Africa World Cup unbeaten, with eventual winners Spain having lost their opening group match against Switzerland.

Who is the coach?

Darren Bazeley will be familiar to some Watford fans. The English-born full-back made almost 300 appearances for that club to begin a senior playing career during which he eventually swapped EFL side Walsall for the Auckland-based New Zealand Knights in the Australian A-League 20 years ago. His subsequent coaching career led him to join the New Zealand setup as under-17s assistant in 2009 — his only break from the national team since then was a stint in MLS with Colorado Rapids and A-League at Newcastle Jets. Come July 2023, Bazeley was appointed New Zealand’s head coach for this World Cup cycle, while simultaneously leading the under-23s at the 2024 Olympics. Bazeley’s side were knocked out in the group stage there, finishing behind the United States and hosts France, who went on to win silver medals.

How do they play?

Despite New Zealand’s limited resources and lowly FIFA ranking, Bazeley has his side trying to play possession football. They use a 4-2-3-1 formation and look to build up without the default option of whacking long balls up to the obvious focal point of Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood. A 1-0 defeat in Poland and 1-1 draw in Norway — albeit the latter was against a team without Erling Haaland — during their two October friendlies showed this team can make that plan work to a point. The greater difficulty was taking the chances they did create, especially when falling to someone other than their No 9. Wood’s involvement in those two friendlies was limited to 68 minutes.

Who is their key player?

A very simple answer to this. Shall we say it all together? Yes, it’s Wood. The 33-year-old, long-time Premier League striker with West Brom, Leicester, Burnley, Newcastle and now Forest is New Zealand’s highest-profile player, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 45 goals and the joint highest appearance-maker alongside former Eredivisie defender Ivan Vicelich, with 88. The tall, rangy, dangerous finisher is also their captain. Wood has already been prolific in the English top flight, and has scored at European level this season. Come the summer, he will aim to get his first goal at a World Cup.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

It is pretty much the first-choice group. Any outstanding injury issues were resolved before Bazeley confirmed his 26 — and it was one of the first squads to be confirmed, almost three weeks before the deadline. It is a tight-knit group that hasn’t been rotated or expanded on much in recent months, and many of the players have worked with Bazeley during his spells in charge of the All Whites’ various development teams. There are 10 players in the squad from the A-League — Australia and New Zealand’s professional top flight — with eight of those playing for either Auckland FC or Wellington Phoenix.

What else should we know about them?

New Zealand’s All Whites nickname came about when the team appeared in — no prizes here — an all-white kit for the first time in the lead-up to that World Cup debut in Spain. No surprises either that it is a soccer counterpoint to the continuing legend of New Zealand’s rather more successful All Blacks rugby union squad. However, in recent years there have been discussions over cultural diversity and representation, and whether the name should continue to be used. More colourful kits for match officials in modern football have ensured New Zealand can at least have an all-black change strip these days.

Michael Bailey

Group H

Spain

(Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

European champions Spain sailed through Group E of the UEFA qualifying competition, winning five and drawing one of their six games, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two.

This was even more impressive given key players including Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were injured at different stages of the campaign.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

For most of World Cup history, the Spanish would be viewed as potential ‘dark horses’, with squads of talented players that looked excellent on paper only to fall short once the tournament started.

That changed in 2010, when a golden generation including Xavi, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso won the trophy thanks to Andres Iniesta’s dramatic late winner in extra time of the final against the Netherlands.

Since then, Spain have returned to underwhelming us — they exited in the group stage as reigning world and European champions in 2014 after losses to the Netherlands (5-1) and Chile, and were embarrassingly eliminated in the last 16 on penalties in both 2018 (to hosts Russia) and 2022 (to near neighbors Morocco).

Who is the coach?

Even Luis de la Fuente himself was surprised when he became Spain national coach in December 2022. But the 64-year-old Basque has done an excellent job, winning the 2023 Nations League and 2024 European Championship titles, and getting to the Nations League final again earlier this year.

As a player, De la Fuente was a left-back who won 1982-83 and 1983-84 La Liga medals with Athletic Club of Bilbao. After joining the Spanish federation’s youth coaching setup in 2013, he guided different generations of emerging stars — including Rodri, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino — to European titles at under-19 and under-21 level and silver medals at the recent Tokyo Olympics.

How do they play?

De la Fuente has kept the possession-based style for which Spain are renowned, and which suits their many technically adept players. However, this current side get the ball forward quickly to their pacy wide attackers, rather than circulating it for long periods in deeper areas.

Another objective is aiming to regain possession quickly by collectively pressing opponents and not allowing them to settle into games.

It makes for an attractive team to watch. They have scored at least twice in each of their past 13 outings going back to October last year, while also keeping clean sheets in five of their six qualifiers.

Who is their key player?

Yamal scored on his senior Spain debut in September 2023, at 16 years and 57 days old, and quickly established himself as a global superstar.

Usually starting on the right of a three-man attack, the Barcelona forward is a superb dribbler, an excellent crosser and an accomplished finisher, as showcased by a tremendous long-range strike in the Euro 2024 semi-final victory against France.

The now 18-year-old missed the last four matches of Spain’s qualifying campaign due to a persistent groin problem, which caused some friction between the national federation and his club.

Another hamstring injury picked up late in the club season means he is unlikely to be fit for Spain’s opener, but De la Fuente expects him to be available by the end of the group phase.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The biggest talking point from Spain’s final squad was zero Real Madrid players included, the first time this has happened in the country’s 17 appearances at a World Cup finals.

Defender Dean Huijsen was the closest to making the cut, but the 21-year-old paid the price for shaky form at club level since joining Madrid last summer for £50million ($67m). Right-back Dani Carvajal, 34, was Spain vice-captain at Euro 2024, but has also dropped out of contention at international level after a below-par club season.

What else should we know about them?

Spanish football’s reputation was damaged considerably during the tumultuous reign of now-disgraced former federation president Luis Rubiales between 2018 and 2023.

Rubiales’ presidency was tarnished by numerous scandals, the biggest of which was his non-consensual kiss of player Jenni Hermoso during the trophy and medal presentation ceremony after Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

FIFA quickly moved to suspend Rubiales from football after that incident, and he was subsequently found guilty of sexual assault in a Spanish court. Yet the 48-year-old has continued to tell anyone still paying attention that he is the victim of a conspiracy.

Dermot Corrigan

Cape Verde

(Difodi Images via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Cape Verde’s place was confirmed when they beat Eswatini 3-0 in October, but the really big result came a month earlier when they held on to a surprise 1-0 win over Cameroon. That, combined with Cameroon dropping points with a series of careless draws, meant in the end Cape Verde finished a comfortable four points clear at the top of their group.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Zero. This is not just the first time Cape Verde have qualified for the World Cup, it is the first time they have really come close. An independent nation only since 1976, they were not FIFA members until 1982 and first entered World Cup qualifying for the 2002 edition, only really having a vague sniff of qualification by coming second in their group to Nigeria in 2022. It is no wonder there were such joyous scenes when qualification was secured.

Who is the coach?

While a lot of the players have been gathered from the Cape Verdean diaspora, the man in charge is very much a local. Pedro Leitao Brito — known as Bubista — was born on the island of Boa Vista and has spent his entire coaching career in Cape Verde. Hugely popular among the players and a lively touchline presence, he took over the national team in 2020 and led them to the Africa Cup of Nations twice, and secured his status as a legend with World Cup qualification.

How do they play?

There is nothing especially remarkable from a tactical point of view about Cape Verde’s setup. They play a fairly standard 4-2-3-1 system, with a fast and direct attacking line that tends to switch positions. Plenty of width is provided from full-back, and they have a solid and experienced central defensive pairing of Irish-born Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes and Diney Borges.

Who is their key player?

Goalkeeper and captain Vozinha is the emotional heart of the team. Columbus Crew right-back and 2024 MLS All-Star Steven Moreira might be the player with the most heft at club level, but the one to keep an eye on is centre-forward Dailon Livramento. Born and raised in Rotterdam and on loan at Portuguese second-tier side Casa Pia from Hellas Verona, the lithe and quick striker scored the winner against Cameroon and the opener against Eswatini, so is responsible for the two most important goals in Cape Verdean history.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There were no surprises from Bubista in their final 26: the only real question was whether Villarreal centre-back Logan Costa would be included, given that he has made only two substitute appearances at club level since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last summer. Perhaps it qualifies as a gamble, but the French-born defender was included.

What else should we know about them?

It has been well documented that many Cape Verde players were recruited from the diaspora, but in addition to opening themselves up to a broader range of talent, that has actually helped the team bond and has provided inspiration. These players, many of whom are eligible to play for Cape Verde through having a parent from the islands, are not just playing for themselves, they are playing for a father, a mother, a grandparent: for many, that has provided an extra source of motivation.

Nick Miller

Saudi Arabia

(Yassar Bakhsh/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Controversially. Having finished behind Japan and Australia in the third round of AFC qualifying, they were forced into the round-robin format of the fourth round. There, they subsequently finished above Iraq on goal difference — but had major advantages as they profited from home matches and extra rest days.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

The most established of the Gulf nations, Saudi Arabia have now reached seven of the past nine tournaments, having made their World Cup debut in the United States in 1994.

They have not reached the knockout stages since then — winning just two matches at the finals over the past 30 years — but delivered arguably the surprise of the 2022 tournament, when they defeated eventual winners Argentina 2-1 in their opening match.

However, they then lost to both Poland and Mexico to finish bottom of their group.

Who is the coach?

Well. Saudi Arabia qualified under the stewardship of Frenchman Herve Renard, who previously coached the team between 2019 and 2023. Saudi Arabia subsequently replaced him with Roberto Mancini, but the Italian’s spell in charge was disastrous, characterised by high-profile fallouts with several players and draws with lowly Indonesia and Bahrain.

Renard was then reappointed, having managed France Women at the 2023 World Cup, stating he had “unfinished business” with the Saudi national team. His previous achievements include being the first coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries.

Renard then presided over the remainder of a limp qualification campaign before being fired himself in April — with experienced Greek manager Georgios Donis taking over in his place.

The former PAOK and Panathinaikos head coach has coached in Saudi Arabia for much of the past decade, but this is his first job outside club football.

How do they play?

Their identity had become somewhat established under Renard — defensive stability in a 4-3-3 formation — but the team have played just twice under Donis, managing a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico and losing 2-1 to fellow World Cup qualifiers Ecuador.

Donis switched them to a 4-4-2 formation in both those games, which has not made them look like a particularly progressive team — both midfielders sitting deep, and the system reliant on their wingers for creativity.

Watch out for their full-backs, who have to get through a stack of work to make the system sing.

Who is their key player?

Even at 34, Al Hilal winger Salem Al-Dawsari is still Saudi Arabia’s most important man. One of the finest players in the nation’s history, currently captaining the side, he scored the winning goal against Argentina in one of the shocks of the 2022 tournament.

An outstanding crosser of the ball who likes to cut inside from the left and shoot off his stronger right foot, he is by far the most likely to produce a game-changing moment.

Keep an eye out too for midfielder Saleh Abu Al-Shamat — who only made his debut in 2025 — a 23-year-old who has impressed with his energetic style, and is capable of opportunistic finishes himself.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Just one player, Lens’ Saud Abdulhamid, is based outside the Saudi Pro League — the full-back has impressed this season, helping Lens to the Coupe de France title, and ensuring he signed for the French club on a permanent deal.

With the remainder of the squad based in Saudi Arabia — including seven players from Al Hilal and six from Al Nassr — the equation is risky. These players clearly know each other well — but will the World Cup be a step up too far?

What else should we know about them?

Saudi Arabia are due to host the World Cup in 2034, which is controversial for several reasons. This will be the culmination of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Vision 2030 project, a mission to change how the country is viewed both internationally and by its 35 million inhabitants, who are mostly under 30.

A football-mad country, the 2026 World Cup is a key staging post to see how the Saudi Arabian national team are progressing.

Several youth development initiatives have been launched in order to create a far larger pool of talented players, with their failure at the 2023 Asian Cup underscoring the desperate need — which is political as well as sporting — to develop a squad capable of consistent international success.

Jacob Whitehead

Uruguay

(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After beating Argentina away from home — Uruguay’s first win in Buenos Aires for more than 40 years — and then Brazil in consecutive games, they had already built up an eight-point cushion on the bottom three in the CONMEBOL qualifying table (the only places that meant World Cup elimination) by the time the 2024 Copa America came around.

Despite a few wobbles away from home, two wins from their final three games meant they cruised through with an identical record to Colombia, finishing fourth on the number of goals scored.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Uruguay hosted, and won, the first World Cup in 1930. You do not get much more pedigree than that. They are also one of just six nations to lift the trophy twice, beating Brazil in the 1950 final in front of a world-record crowd at the Maracana.

That said, it has been a while since Uruguay were truly competitive on the world stage. Their best finish of the modern era came in 2010, when a controversial Luis Suarez handball against Ghana helped them progress to the semi-finals, but a bitterly disappointing group-stage exit in Qatar saw the legendary figures of Diego Godin, Edinson Cavani and Suarez bow out on a low.

Who is the coach?

Casual observers will have become accustomed to seeing Oscar Tabarez at the World Cup, Uruguay’s manager for more than 17 years prowling the touchline with the help of his walking cane. Now, though, there is another distinctive name in charge.

During Marcelo Bielsa’s eclectic career in football, he has managed three South American sides (he also coached Argentina and Chile). The 70-year-old is a firm believer in full-blooded, high-tempo football, something that seemed to resonate with a committed group of players towards the start of his reign. Off the pitch, however, The Athletic has reported that his cut-throat approach to man-management has opened up rifts throughout the squad, all of which came to a head after an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to the United States in November.

Bielsa himself organised an astonishing 105-minute press conference to speak to the media in the wake of that loss, addressing those issues directly, but underlining his desire to lead the team into the World Cup.

This is a team that can beat anyone on their day, but strong performances rely on physical conditioning, duel-winning and cohesion to execute an ambitious man-to-man approach off the ball. Let’s see if he can keep the squad fit, firing, and on the same page.

How do they play?

Without the ball, Uruguay do not want to give you a second to think.

A tenacious midfield trio of Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde are happy to chase opponents up the pitch, while dominant defenders can also step up and snap at the heels of centre-forwards. When they do turn over the ball, the pace of their front three gives them a reliable escape route, with a number of intense attacking midfielders — Maximiliano Araujo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Brian Rodriguez — always quick to get up in support.

Even when they can control possession, movement is often drastic to get runners beyond the last defensive line. Expect to see crunching tackles, lung-busting runs, along with the exhaustion and exhilaration that comes with a Bielsa team.

Who is their key player?

Few players are better suited to the manager’s all-action approach than Valverde, an astonishing athlete who brings power and creativity to his box-to-box midfield role.

The 27-year-old has played a number of roles across the years for Real Madrid — a willing channel runner at wing-back, a tempo-setter at the base of midfield, a box-crashing midfielder down the right — and brings some of that adaptability to the national team, a limitless engine helping him plug the gaps in midfield and keep the defensive shape in tact.

Valverde can pop up with a goal too, able to strike the ball sweetly from distance and exploit any spaces on the counter with the kind of forward momentum that is very difficult to stop. He is the organiser, talisman and very epitome of Bielsa’s Uruguay team, when it clicks.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The big news is Suarez does not make the final squad. It would have given the 39-year-old a chance at his fifth World Cup, while he needs just one more goal and one more appearance at the competition to equal Uruguayan records. Instead, bustling centre-forward Rodrigo Aguirre joins Darwin Nunez in the centre-forward slots, alongside Real Oviedo’s Federico Vinas, after a late-season scoring run.

What else should we know about them?

Uruguay are still the smallest and least populous nation to win a World Cup, and by quite a distance. Geographically, they are sandwiched between the South American superpowers of Brazil and Argentina, contributing around 0.8 per cent of the continent’s population.

Any perceived sense of inferiority is challenged by a national spirit known as ‘Garra Charrua’ — the claw of Garrua — referring back to the indigenous people who inhabited Uruguay before colonisation who fought to protect their land. Nowadays, their story is used to represent the underdog mentality that the nation embraces, with the likes of Diego Forlan and Ugarte referring directly to a determination that is inherent to the Uruguayan way.

Thom Harris

Group I

France

(Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After failing to get the job done in October because of an unconvincing 2-2 draw in Iceland, France came through in style with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Ukraine in November.

Captain and talisman Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including a Panenka penalty, to take his international goal tally to 55. After scoring against Brazil in their 2-1 victory in a friendly in March, Mbappe went to 56, just one off Olivier Giroud’s record.

That meant France won five of their six qualifying matches, with that Iceland draw the only blip in an otherwise breezy campaign, as they defeated Ukraine and Azerbaijan twice each by a combined score of 12-1.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Very impressive. France have won the tournament twice, first on home soil in 1998 with a famous 3-0 victory against Brazil in the final, and then 20 years later, beating Croatia 4-2.

They have also been runners-up twice, to Italy on penalties in 2006, in a final where their captain Zinedine Zidane put them in front with an early Panenka spot kick then was sent off in extra time for headbutting opposition defender Marco Materazzi, never to play professionally again, and to Argentina three years ago in what was a final for the ages. Mbappe scored a hat-trick but still ended up on the losing side, as Argentina won in another shootout.

In 16 previous World Cup appearances, France have also recorded two third-place finishes (1958 and 1986) and one fourth (1982). They have also suffered some notable and calamitous group-stage exits, such as in 2002 when as holders they lost to Senegal in the tournament’s opening match, and in 2010, after an extraordinary player revolt following manager Raymond Domenech’s decision to send striker Nicolas Anelka home mid-tournament.

Who is their coach?

Didier Deschamps, captain of that victorious 1998 side, has been in charge for the past 14 years. This World Cup will be his last act, with the 57-year-old stepping down at the end of the tournament.

As well as winning the 2018 World Cup, he also led hosts France to the final of the 2016 European Championship, where they lost to Portugal. Although the French have enjoyed success under Deschamps, he has previously faced some criticism over his style of play, particularly after a dreary showing at Euro 2024 (though they got to the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to eventual winners Spain). However, they have been in free-scoring form coming into the tournament.

In a previous interview with The Athletic, Deschamps said: “I’m tied to the blue, white and red jersey, which is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I’ll leave what I leave. Nobody, not even my worst enemies, can take away the results I’ve had.”

Zidane is favourite to replace him, and speaking at Italy’s Trento Sports Festival in October, he said: “One of my goals is to coach the French national team. We will see.”

How do they play?

In their recent matches, Deschamps has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Michael Olise tending to operate in the hole behind captain Mbappe. The manager is spoilt for attacking options to play either side of Olise, including 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki. Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta offers another more physical option down the middle.

Given the depth and quality of France’s squad, there are tough selection decisions for Deschamps all across the team. In central defence, for example, he can only pick two from Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba.

Who is their key player?

Mbappe, who has eight goals and five assists in his past eight matches for France and has scored 56 times in 96 senior appearances for his country in total. But his relationship with the national team has not always been smooth sailing. He returned to the side in March last year for a Nations League quarter-final against Croatia after a six-month absence and following an underwhelming Euros, where he was forced to play in a protective mask after fracturing his nose in France’s opening match and contributed one goal in five games.

Olise, who has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for Bayern Munich this season with 22 goals and 30 assists, is sure to light up the World Cup this summer. He is expected to play in a central role, behind Mbappe.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The main thing that stands out is the wealth of attacking options that Deschamps can call on.

In the forward positions, Deschamps picked Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Doue, Akliouche, Barcola, Cherki, Mateta and Thuram for his final squad.

Mateta was perhaps the most interesting selection, especially as he only received his first international call-up in October.

Since then, he has had a testing time, with a knee injury that kept him out for over a month playing a part in his proposed January move to Milan falling through. However, when he returned to the Palace side, he came back into form and made enough of an impact to force his way into France’s World Cup squad.

Mateta was selected alongside his team-mate at Crystal Palace, central defender Maxence Lacroix.

Goalkeeper Robin Risser was called up following an excellent season at Lens.

The most surprising omission was Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, although he has had an underwhelming season, losing his club place to academy graduate Thiago Pitarch.

Strikers Randal Kolo Muani, on loan at Tottenham Hotspur this season, and Rennes’ Esteban Lepaul, the top scorer in Ligue 1, also missed out.

What else should we know about them?

France have a devoted fan, Clement Tomaszewski, who has travelled to watch them in every tournament since the 1982 World Cup, accompanied by a live cockerel, which is always named Balthazar. As The Athletic previously reported, Tomaszewski shot to fame when a camera panned to him and Balthazar during the 1998 World Cup final in Paris.

This will be the first time France have featured at a World Cup in the United States, after failing to qualify for the 1994 edition in dramatic fashion. Gerard Houllier’s star-studded side conceded a late Bulgaria winner in their final group game when they only needed to draw to go through, with the manager furious at future Newcastle and Tottenham star David Ginola for over-hitting a free kick in the dying moments which led to the decisive goal – and a long-running feud between the pair.

Tom Burrows

Senegal

(Catherin Ivill/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Senegal were unbeaten and finished top of their group with 24 points from 10 matches. Pape Thiaw’s side scored 22 goals and only conceded three times.

The pivotal moment in their qualifying campaign happened in September. They were 2-0 down after half an hour against DR Congo. Goals from Pape Gueye and Nicolas Jackson drew them level before Pape Matar Sarr’s 87th-minute strike secured an impressive comeback victory. DR Congo finished second on 22 points and went on to successfully earn a place at the competition via the inter-continental play-offs

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Senegal should be brimming with confidence after winning this year’s AFCON in dramatic but controversial circumstances against the hosts Morocco (even if the title was subsequently taken off them). Senegal had never won the competition before 2021 and have now been victorious, on the pitch at least, in two of the past three editions. They are not the highest-ranked African side — Morocco are six places above them in eighth — but possess a good blend of experience and exciting young talent.

Senegal’s best moment at the World Cup came on their debut in 2002 when they famously beat the holders France 1-0 in their opening game and progressed to the quarter-finals. They will be eagerly looking forward to their reunion with France in the group stage on June 16 in New Jersey.

Senegal reached the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar but were beaten 3-0 by England. They avenged that defeat with a 3-1 victory over Thomas Tuchel’s side at Wembley last year. This squad has continued to grow and will be determined to become the first African side to reach the final.

Who is the coach?

Aliou Cisse, who won AFCON 2021 with Senegal, left the role in 2024 after spending nearly a decade in charge and was replaced by Thiaw.

Thiaw is a former Senegal international who represented clubs in the top divisions of Spain, France and Switzerland during his playing career. He won the 2022 African Nations Championship (ANC) with Senegal’s ‘A’ team — squads at the ANC are comprised of players from that country’s domestic league.

The 44-year-old has stepped into the senior role well, effortlessly guiding Senegal through their World Cup qualifying campaign and leading them to glory at AFCON. However, most people know him for his protests, rightly or wrongly, after Morocco were awarded a penalty in the final. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave him a five-match ban for “unsporting conduct” but it does not apply to FIFA matches.

How do they play?

Thiaw switches between either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation. Senegal have a fearsome front three of Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye and Jackson. They are all versatile forwards, which allows them to interchange positions to confuse opposition defences.

Idrissa Gueye patrols the midfield alongside Villareal’s Pape Gueye, who charged forward to score the winning goal in the AFCON final. The defence is marshalled by the team’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly, while their first-choice goalkeeper is Edouard Mendy, who spent two years with Chelsea.

Who is their key player?

Mane, Mendy and Koulibaly are playing out the twilight of their careers in Saudi Arabia but are still extremely important to Senegal.

Jackson has the potential to become an excellent striker but his game time has been limited since he moved to Bayern Munich on loan from Chelsea. Ndiaye’s stock is rapidly rising. Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara was named Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Under-20 AFCON. Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye scored a few days before his 18th birthday in Senegal’s 3-1 victory over Sudan at AFCON.

Mane is still the star attraction, though. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward scored five times in qualifying.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Thiaw has not made too many changes from the AFCON squad. The most eye-catching inclusion is 18-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. The midfielder is on loan with Bayern Munich from Gambian side Gambinos Stars Africa. Sapoko Ndiaye has made four appearances in the Bundesliga and started in the recent 4-1 victory over Mainz alongside Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic in central midfield.

Como winger Assane Diao has been called up, too. Diao was at the centre of a tug-of-war between his club and Senegal before AFCON. Como’s head coach Cesc Fabregas requested that he not be included in the squad but Senegal ignored his wishes. Diao then suffered an injury against Roma and missed the tournament.

The 20-year-old will be hoping to put that messy situation behind him and shine for Senegal this summer.

What else should we know about them?

Senegal were knocked out in the round of 16 at AFCON 2023 (played in early 2024) by hosts and eventual winners Ivory Coast. It was a huge shock because Ivory Coast had been underperforming at the tournament, while Senegal won all of their group games, scoring eight times and conceding once.

Apart from that slip-up, Senegal’s record at major tournaments over the past decade has been impressive. Even when they were eliminated at the group stage of the 2018 World Cup it was because of extreme misfortune. Senegal finished on four points and had the exact same goal difference as Japan, who progressed because they had received fewer yellow cards.

They have consistently been one of the best performing African sides so do not be surprised if they make a deep run at this World Cup.

Jay Harris

Iraq

How did they qualify?

It took the thick end of three years and 21 games but Iraq finally managed to book their place through FIFA’s week of intercontinental play-offs, narrowly beating Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey.

That was the end of an exhausting road, with Iraq involved in four rounds of qualification through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

A two-legged win over the United Arab Emirates in November was particularly dramatic when triumphing in the 17th minute of added time, teeing up a direct route to the play-off final, where they held their nerve against a young Bolivian team. No other team at the World Cup finals played as many games to be there.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

There is barely one to speak of. The 1986 World Cup, held in Mexico, was the one and only previous time Iraq had made it all the way to the finals and that was hardly an uplifting experience. All three group games against Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium were lost, with Ahmed Radhi still the only Iraq player ever to have scored at a World Cup finals.

Who is their coach?

Graham Arnold, a wily old Australian and World Cup veteran. The 62-year-old had two stints in charge of his national team, with the second of those delivering a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Argentina, the eventual winners, had a scare against Arnold’s Australia, eventually squeezing through to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win.

Arnold, who is assisted by former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen with Iraq, can call upon a managerial CV that began 37 years ago and includes time spent coaching club football in Australia and Japan.

How do they play?

There was an acceptance that the technical football favoured by Arnold’s predecessor, Spaniard Jesus Casas, was not playing to the strengths of Iraq and the past 12 months have seen a shift in style.

Arnold has largely favoured a 4-4-2 shape since taking over, with the emphasis placed on defensive solidity. This Iraq team is direct and attempts to play to its physical strengths. There will be an understanding that every opponent at the World Cup will see more of the ball but that will suit a team that will be set up to counter attack with width.

Who is their key player?

Aymen Hussein remains Iraq’s attacking talisman, a strong No 9 with a goalscoring pedigree. That was underlined in the play-off victory over Bolivia as he confidently swept in the winning goal.

Hussein is fifth on Iraq’s all-time goalscoring list and the second most-capped player in the World Cup squad. Only goalkeeper Jalal Hassan has greater experience and it was telling that his injury absence in the play-offs led to the captaincy being handed to Hussein. Iraq’s goalscoring hopes will mostly be carried on his shoulders.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Arnold opted for experience when whittling down a preliminary 34-man squad to the final names. Among those to miss out was 19-year-old Jussef Nasrawe, who switched international allegiances earlier this year after playing youth football for Germany. Dundee United’s Dario Naamo, 20, made his own change when turning his back on Finland ahead of the World Cup but he also failed to make the cut as Arnold showed loyalty to those who brought Iraq this far.

What else should we know?

Iraq’s first World Cup qualification in 40 years was made all the more commendable by the lengths they went to in reaching Mexico.

The airspace closure in Iraq due to the conflict between America and Iran led to more than half of the squad travelling to neighbouring Jordan by bus, before onward flights to Lisbon and Monterrey meant they were in transit for the best part of three days. A reverse of that journey awaited them after beating Bolivia.

It is Arnold’s hope that a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East will allow Iraqis to eventually have a public moment of celebration with the players.

Philip Buckingham

Norway

(Image Photo Agency via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Technically it took Norway until the final game to secure their spot but their qualification campaign could not have been more convincing, with eight wins from eight. Italy were their only serious rivals to top their group, but they were beaten 3-0 in Oslo, then 4-1 in Milan. They also hammered Moldova 11-1.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This is only Norway’s fourth World Cup appearance. A single match at the straight-knockout 1938 edition was all they had to speak about until their sudden rise in the 1990s. They reached second in FIFA’s world rankings before the 1994 tournament in the United States, at which they were unfortunate to come last in a bizarre Group E which featured all four sides, including eventual finalists Italy, finishing on four points. That is the only time this has happened in World Cup history.

Their appearance four years later in France was more memorable, beating a final-bound Brazil 2-1 in the last group game thanks to an 89th-minute penalty to advance to the knockout phase. In the round of 16, they were eliminated 1-0 by Italy.

It is remarkable that Norway — a wealthy, football-loving country — have not qualified for a World Cup or European Championship since Euro 2000, considering the likes of North Macedonia, Latvia, Georgia, Albania and Iceland have all reached a tournament in that period.

Who is the coach?

Stale Solbakken was a fiery midfielder who played for Norway at that 1998 World Cup. As a manager, he has enjoyed serious success in two stints with FC Copenhagen in Denmark, winning a total of eight league titles. Periods with Koln in Germany and England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers between those two spells were less successful.

Solbakken always felt like a future Norway national-team coach, but his five years as their manager has been largely disappointing until now. They failed even to reach the 2022 World Cup qualification play-offs, unable to win any of their four group matches against the Netherlands or Turkey. They subsequently finished a distant third, behind eventual champions Spain and Scotland, in their bid for Euro 2024.

The 57-year-old is a keen tactician who has realised the limits of international-level coaching, and adopted a simpler approach in recent months.

How do they play?

The Norway side of the 1990s were seen as being direct, physical and somewhat unimaginative. But Solbakken has turned them into a more attack-minded side in an attempt to take advantage of their two world-class players, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard.

As Odegaard is accustomed to at club level, he plays a loose inside-right role in a shape that sometimes looks like 4-2-3-1 and at others more like 4-3-3. Where previous Norway sides were renowned for having hard-working, technically-limited players out wide, this lot can call on Antonio Nusa and Oscar Bobb, two genuinely exciting dribblers.

Norway are somewhat functional in deeper positions — Brentford’s jack-of-all-trades Kristoffer Ajer is this side’s defensive cornerstone — but they are well organised.

Who is their key player?

Eighteen months ago, you could have made an argument that Norway had the outstanding No 9 and No 10 in the Premier League, if not all of Europe. But while Odegaard has suffered a difficult, injury-affected period since, Haaland is probably in his best form yet.

He scored at least once in all eight qualifiers, finishing with 16 goals – the most in the entire worldwide qualification process for this tournament. Superb in terms of movement, physically fearsome and unerring in front of goal, there may be more complete centre-forwards at this tournament, but Haaland is surely the best penalty-box finisher around.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

A relatively limited talent pool — as you’d expect from a country of 5.5million — means there were no major shocks in the final squad, which was announced by the King of Norway.

Perhaps the most noteworthy story came a couple of weeks earlier, when FIFA rejected goalkeeper Nikita Haikin’s request to change his international affiliation from Russia to Norway. He had recently received Norwegian citizenship but Haikin’s seven-year stint with Bodo/Glimt was interrupted by a two-month spell at Bristol City, in which he did not play. This meant he hadn’t met the five-year continual residency requirement stipulated by FIFA. However, he wasn’t expected to be Norway’s No 1, with Orjan Nyland likely to start.

What else should we know about them?

While Haaland is a nailed-on starter, Norway also have excellent backups in attack: Jorgen Strand Larsen has scored double figures both in La Liga and the Premier League in his past two complete seasons, while Alexander Sorloth has become La Liga’s most reliable supersub – he scored 20 goals for Atletico Madrid in 2024-25 despite playing less than 50 per cent of minutes.

Michael Cox

Group J

Argentina

(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Easily. Argentina lost four of their 18 matches in South American qualifying (two of which came without Lionel Messi) but cruised to the World Cup. A +21 goal differential and nine-point cushion over second-placed Ecuador meant the reigning world champions never truly suffered.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Argentina’s third World Cup title in 2022 established them as one of the sport’s greatest national teams. Before that win, heartbreak had become synonymous with the Argentines at World Cups, particularly in the Messi era. Their fortunes have since changed dramatically.

Argentina are also back-to-back South American champions, and while they do not always please aesthetically, their desire to win and their top individual talent have made them a formidable side once again heading into 2026. With Messi set to star at his sixth and last World Cup, Argentina will once again play for their talismanic captain.

Who is the coach?

Lionel Scaloni, 47, has a winning rate with Argentina of nearly 70 per cent. He has led them to a World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs. After initially only being named as the team’s interim coach in 2018, Scaloni has become an icon in his homeland.

He has created a near-unbreakable team culture that is the antithesis of former Argentina sides that cracked under pressure at major tournaments. Perhaps his greatest virtue has been his ability to integrate players around Messi, including young squad members who have not been blinded by the bright lights that follow Argentina.

How do they play?

Scaloni is anything but rigid as a tactician. He has experimented with several different systems, but he has shown a preference for traditional formations that emphasize a strong back four and a dominant central midfield. Tapping into the traits of his European-based midfielders, such as Premier League players Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, has given Argentina a faster and more dynamic attacking identity.

Argentina under Scaloni has shown two different personalities: one where play goes through Messi, and the other, when he is absent, that is much more fluid and direct. Both alternatives have led to important wins.

Who is their key player?

It goes without saying. Messi continues to be the face of Argentina’s national team. Even though he has given much thought to ending his international career before this World Cup, the 38-year-old appears motivated to win a second one before hanging up his boots.

Messi finished as top scorer in South American qualifying with eight goals (one more than Colombia’s Luis Díaz and Miguel Terceros of Bolivia), which confirmed he is still an important part of his national team. He has now lost the burst of pace that made him the world’s best player for nearly two decades, but his vision and finishing around the penalty area are still nearly flawless.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

This is a veteran group that has tasted glorious success in one of the most football-crazed countries in the world. Messi and his mates became rock stars and pop-culture heroes in 2022. The question now is whether or not this team, and Messi, have the same hunger and ambition as they did four years ago. Messi, for instance, no longer has the burden of becoming a great player to never win a World Cup.

Scaloni has incorporated some young and exciting new players to freshen the squad, but the core elements of the 2022 side remain the spine of the team. Will he lean on them again or will Scaloni divert his attention toward the team’s future?

What else should we know about them?

Despite having a very experienced team, Argentina will likely feature some of the world’s best young players at the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni has been unafraid to incorporate new talent into the squad, so expect his starting XI to include Atletico Madrid’s Thiago Almada, 24, along with 21-year-old Como midfielder Nico Paz. Both players represent the next generation of Argentine players who will vie to replace Messi as Argentina’s No 10 after this World Cup.

Felipe Cardenas

Algeria

(Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Despite losing to Guinea in their third match in Group G in the African qualifiers, Algeria won the next six games and drew once, against Guinea, to top CAF qualifying Group G with 25 points.

They had to wait, though, until October to confirm their qualification with a 3-0 victory against Somalia.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This is Algeria’s fifth participation in the World Cup.

Their first, in 1982, is etched in the World Cup record books because they became the first team to be eliminated after winning twice in the group stages, against West Germany and Chile.

Algeria’s exit came after West Germany’s controversial 1-0 victory against Austria, in what is known as the Disgrace of Gijon, in which both teams played out a non-competitive match to secure the scoreline which would ensure both progressed at the expense of Algeria.

Accordingly, FIFA revised the group-stage system for future tournaments, so the final two games in each group would be played simultaneously.

Their 1986 and 2010 participations were insignificant, but in 2014 they reached the round of 16 and proved a tough nut to crack for eventual winners Germany, who won 2-1 after extra time thanks to goals from Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil.

Who is the coach?

Vladimir Petkovic. The Bosnian head coach is known at international level for his time managing Switzerland and guiding them to the knockout stages of the European Championship and the World Cup.

Algeria reached out to him after mutually terminating the contract of their previous coach, Djamel Belmadi, who won them the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but exited the tournament from the group stage in the following two editions, and failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in dramatic circumstances.

Petkovic lost his first competitive match with Algeria, a 2-1 defeat against Guinea, but has steadied the ship since, reaching the 2026 World Cup with 27 wins from his 39 games in charge, a win record not far off 70 per cent.

How do they play?

Algeria operate in a 4-3-3 shape, with Riyad Mahrez on the right wing and Mohamed Amoura on the other side, if he’s not playing as the team’s centre-forward.

Amoura’s attacking profile means he can be an additional threat inside the penalty area when drifting in-field from the left wing.

Algeria focus on passing combinations in the wide areas, with an emphasis on creating chances from crosses.

Who is their key player?

Algeria’s talismanic captain, Mahrez, is still the torch bearer for the national team.

The 2019 AFCON winner (113) is only behind centre-back Aissa Mandi (116) in Algeria’s appearance list.

As usual, Mahrez is not flying solo, because the squad has one of the best African talents in Amoura, who plays for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

He was the top scorer in the first round of the African World Cup qualifiers with 10 goals. His pace and ability to bypass defenders is complemented by his fine finishing.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There is no space for Youcef Atal, the right-back, in the defensive ranks, while several big names are omitted in midfield, with three-cap 22-year-old Yacine Titraoui of Charleroi in Belgium included.

AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer, who spent the season on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, is out, along with Marseille’s Himad Abdelli and Schalke’s Adil Aouchiche.

There are some real surprises in attack, too.

Striker Baghdad Bounedjah, 34, is the country’s fourth all-time goalscorer but is left at home, as are wingers Badredine Bouanani, Said Benrahma and Ilan Kebbal.

Fares Ghedjemis, who plays for second-tier side Frosinone, and Gyor striker Nadhir Benbouali are included after fine domestic seasons in Italy and Hungary respectively, albeit in lower-quality leagues.

What else should we know about them?

Zinedine Zidane’s son, Luca, plays as a goalkeeper for Algeria.

He was part of France’s national youth sides, but decided to switch his allegiances to represent the country of his grandparents.

Luca was called up to the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda in October, and made his debut in the latter match before impressing at AFCON across December and January.

Ahmed Walid

Austria

(Jewel Samad/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After winning their first five matches, Austria conjured a nervy finish for themselves by losing in Romania and then falling behind against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a winner-takes-all finale in Vienna. Michael Gregoritsch’s goal 13 minutes from time meant they secured their spot with more drama than they would have liked.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Austria’s recent pedigree is non-existent, with this being the first World Cup they have qualified for since 1998. However, their historic performances were much more interesting. As one of world football’s powerhouses after the Second World War, they finished third in the 1954 tournament, beating hosts Switzerland 7-5 along the way. Later, led by the goals of prolific Barcelona and Rapid Vienna striker Hans Krankl, they reached the second group stage in 1978 and 1982, although the latter came in disgraceful circumstances, a 1-0 defeat by West Germany that meant both nations progressed. The way that game played out led to all all final World Cup group-stage matches thereafter starting simultaneously.

Who is the coach?

One of the most influential managers in the history of German football, Ralf Rangnick is now creating a legacy with Austria too. Rangnick, who famously said Manchester United required open-heart surgery during his brief spell as interim boss in the 2021-22 season, left club football for the first time in his near 40-year career to revive an Austrian team that needed a new direction. They had qualified for two Euros in a row when Rangnick took over three years ago, but had done so with a largely inhibited style. Rangnick has revitalised not just the team but the country, with full houses now commonplace and enthusiasm at its highest level for decades.

How do they play?

With attacking intent and style. As captain David Alaba, of Real Madrid, said a couple of years ago, Austria were “fed up” with playing pragmatic football, something Rangnick was quick to dispense with when he enlisted his ‘Red Bull’ approach of high pressing, high intensity and speedy transitions. With a number of the squad well-honed in those methods, having either featured for Red Bull Salzburg or RB Leipzig — or having encountered Rangnick’s principles in club football — they adapted it pretty seamlessly. Austria shone brightly but briefly at Euro 2024, topping a group that contained France and the Netherlands before defeat by Turkey in the last 16. They will hope to do better at the World Cup.

Who is their key player?

The experience of Alaba, who missed the Euros having suffered a serious knee injury, will be important, but in the absence of Christoph Baumgartner, who enjoyed the best season of his career at RB Leipzig but who has been ruled out with a thigh injury, it’s Konrad Laimer.

Laimer has been playing full-back for Bayern Munich lately and to an extremely high standard. He will revert to midfield for his national team and as another player raised within the Red Bull system, his contribution in both directions will be vital.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The late additions were fascinating. Paul Wanner, the 20-yearold PSV attacking midfielder finally — after months of speculation — committed to Austria over Germany and joined the first-team squad in March.

So did Carney Chukwuemeka, the former Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder, previously an England youth international. Chukwuemeka was a long-term target for Rangnick, who first tried to convince him to switch allegiances before the 2024 European Championship. This time he was successful, calling up the player for the first time in the spring.

With Baumgartner suddenly and unexpectedly unavailable, that might prove timely; Chukwuemeka is exactly the sort of slashing, technical attacker that Austria now need.

What else should we know about them?

Rangnick is extremely popular for how he has rejuvenated the national team. Baumgartner called him “the best thing that could have happened to Austrian football” in 2024. “I really mean it,” he added. “He simply brings an incredible amount of expertise and invests an enormous amount of time and energy. That’s extremely good for us, as we are a nation that is quick to rest on our laurels.” For one of Rangnick’s first matches in charge, a friendly against Italy in late 2022, only 18,000 turned up to watch. Their most recent game against Bosnia was a 48,000 sell-out.

Tim Spiers

Jordan

(Ameen Ahmed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After a tricky start to the second group stage — they drew with Kuwait and lost to South Korea, both at home, in the first three matches — the second half of their campaign perked up significantly, with arguably the most impressive result being a draw away to the dominant Koreans in March. They secured a historic passage to their first World Cup with a 3-0 win in Oman, with a game to spare.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

None at all! This is the first time they have qualified, being one of the beneficiaries of the expanded 48-team format that means Asia has eight guaranteed spots next year, up from four in 2022. The closest they came previously was when they reached the intercontinental play-offs for the 2014 edition, negotiating the labyrinthine Asian qualification process to meet Uruguay, who had finished fifth in South America. Alas, they were hammered 5-0 in the first leg in Amman, and while they reclaimed some pride by drawing 0-0 in the return a week later, they were never likely to get past Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez et al.

Who is the coach?

While Jordan have no previous World Cup experience, their head coach does. Jamal Sellami was part of the Morocco squad in 1998 and, although he only actually got three minutes on the pitch, he still keeps the newspaper clipping from the day the squad was announced. Sellami’s coaching career is a little spotty, having previously worked exclusively in his homeland. He took over from compatriot Hussein Ammouta, who had led Jordan to the final of the 2023 Asian Cup (they lost to hosts Qatar) in June last year.

How do they play?

There is no grand tactical plan that will set the World Cup alight from Jordan. Much like most minnows who have succeeded beyond their expectations, their qualification was based on ceaseless work rate and defensive organisation, before hitting opponents on the counter-attack. The win over Oman that sealed qualification is a case in point: two of their three goals came about through rapid transitions.

Who is their key player?

Musa Al-Taamari has been the key man for some time now. The No 10 is a rapid, scurrying playmaker who looks a little like a taller version (aren’t we all?) of former France winger Mathieu Valbuena in the way he moves. He is key to their counter-attacking game, and can do some serious damage when he combines with other attackers. Al-Taamari is one of only two members of the current squad who play their club football in Europe, plying his trade for Rennes in France’s top flight Ligue 1.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

The headline absence wasn’t a surprise, but star striker Yazan Al-Naimat, who scored eight times in qualifying, hasn’t recovered after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in November. There were fears that Ali Olwan, his likely replacement, would also be missing, but he has shaken off an Achilles injury and takes his place in the squad. Captain Ehsan Haddad is in despite missing much of the domestic season with injury.

What else should we know about them?

Watch out for their goal celebrations. At the 2023 Asian Cup, they marked scoring by sitting down and pretending to eat a ‘mansaf’, a traditional Jordanian meal usually seen at weddings and funerals. It was not only distinctive but also indirectly led to their win in the round of 16: when Iraq’s Aymen Hussein gave his side a 2-1 lead on 76 minutes, he celebrated by mocking the Jordanian ‘mansaf’… for which he was given a second yellow card and so was sent off. Against 10 men, Jordan went on to score two stoppage-time goals to win, 3-2.

Nick Miller

Group K

Portugal

(Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

Top of their group with 13 points and 20 goals scored in six matches. Despite a surprise defeat in Dublin by the Republic of Ireland in November when Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal’s qualification was never really in doubt and they confirmed their spot in style with a 9-1 thrashing of Armenia.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

After a Eusebio-inspired run to the semi-finals in 1966, Portugal only made it to one tournament (1986) for the rest of the century. However, since qualifying in 2002 they have featured in every single World Cup and become one of Europe’s most prominent teams. They won the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, but in World Cups this century reaching only one semi-final (in 2006) will be a slight disappointment to a small but richly-talented footballing nation which has had even more golden generations than England.

Who is the coach?

Roberto Martinez, the man who undoubtedly talks a good game and has enjoyed varying degrees of success during an eclectic managerial career which has taken him from Swansea City in League One to Belgium at the World Cup, via winning the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic and guiding Everton to fifth place in the Premier League. His work with Belgium included reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and first place in the world rankings. With Portugal, a very poor Euro 2024 was followed up by a very impressive Nations League success this year. Hopes are high for the summer.

How do they play?

Martinez likes Portugal to be tactically adaptable (he switches between formations, with 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 in their repertoire) with attack-minded full-backs (Nuno Mendes being one of the best in the world at this) and sauntering midfielders (like Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva), although not necessarily dominating the ball (they beat Germany and Spain in the Nations League semi-final and final respectively with less possession in both matches). Martinez does have a tendency to do something wild (Joao Neves at right-back recently, for example) to try to spring a surprise, with fluidity across the team his preference.

Who is their key player?

So many to choose from, not least talisman Fernandes and midfield pivot Vitinha, but it’s hard to look past Ronaldo in terms of his performances being key to how well Portugal do. Prolific in qualification (15 goals in 14 qualifiers for this World Cup and the last Euros) and in domestic football in Saudi Arabia (28 in 30 this season as Al Nassr won the title), Ronaldo has nonetheless earned a reputation as a bit of a flat-track bully in his later years after flopping at successive major tournaments, with one goal in 10 matches (a penalty at that) at his last World Cup and Euros combined. Whether he starts or not, the attention will all be on him, which may be an unwelcome sideshow for a ridiculously talented group.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

That it’s ridiculously talented. Of the 48 nations at the tournament, few can rival Portugal for depth of talent (Mateus Fernandes and Joao Palhinha didn’t make the final cut) while their best XI is as good as anything on show. There are question marks over the form of their forwards, though, with Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto experiencing inconsistent seasons, Goncalo Ramos on the periphery at Paris-Saint Germain and Ronaldo and Joao Felix playing at a lower level in Saudi Arabia.

What else should we know about them?

Diogo Jota will never be far from the minds of Portugal’s players, staff and supporters as they look to live out his World Cup dream. Jota played 49 times for his country, scoring 14 goals, and his last appearance on a football field was as a late substitute for their Nations League triumph against Spain in June, just weeks before his tragic passing in a car crash which also killed his brother, Andre Silva. “His professionalism and belief were both contagious and exemplary,” Martinez said of Jota. “We will carry his spirit in our hearts.” Ruben Neves now wears Jota’s shirt, No 21, in tribute to his friend.

Tim Spiers

DR Congo

How did they qualify?

Buckle up; we’re taking the scenic route. DR Congo finished second in their group in the first stage of African qualifying, a 3-2 home reversal against Senegal costing them an automatic World Cup spot and sending them to a four-team continental play-off tournament. There, they beat Cameroon and, in circumstances that bordered on the Biblical, overcame Nigeria on penalties. Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle accused them of “practising voodoo” during the shootout. That victory qualified them for a one-off, winner-takes-all clash with Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico — a match they won with a scrappy Axel Tuanzebe goal in extra time.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be only their second World Cup. They last qualified — under the name Zaire — for the 1974 edition, losing all three of their matches by an aggregate score of 14-0. The enduring image of that campaign is of Mwepu Ilunga breaking from a defensive wall to boot a Brazil free kick downfield. Now, after 52 years of heartbreak, they have the chance to create better memories.

Who is their coach?

Sebastien Desabre has had a peripatetic career, coaching clubs in Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tunisia, Angola, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt, as well as in his native France. After cutting his teeth in the international game with Uganda, he took the DR Congo job in August 2022 with the express aim of taking the Leopards back to the World Cup. The results since then speak for themselves: DRC have won 29 of Desabre’s 48 matches in charge.

How do they play?

It is fair to say Desabre is not tied to a radical vision. DR Congo are, above all, adaptable, capable of passing their way to victory but also of grinding out results, like they did against Jamaica. It is telling that Desabre speaks more of collective endeavour and resilience than he does of any specific tactical plan.

They are most likely to line up in a changeable 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 formation, with the fit-again Yoane Wissa flitting between the lines and sometimes joining Cedric Bakambu up front. Nathanael Mbuku and Meschak Elia provide penetration out wide, while Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and the underrated Samuel Moutoussamy pull the strings in midfield. The defence, full of top-level experience, is solid.

Who is their key player?

Sadiki is this side’s future but Bakambu is its here and now. The striker will be 35 by the time the World Cup begins but remains DR Congo’s attacking talisman, the man they look to when they desperately need something to happen. Bakambu is all-action: he runs the channels, brings team-mates into play and gets on the end of crosses. And while the goals have dried up for him at club level — he had scored just six league goals across the past three seasons going into March’s play-off — he remains potent in the blue of his country.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Wissa has been named in Desabre’s squad despite a disappointing season with Newcastle United. Wissa missed this year’s AFCON because he remained with Newcastle to rebuild his fitness after missing the first half of the season with a knee injury. The forward has only scored three goals in 27 appearances since he joined Newcastle from Brentford in September for £55m.

Otherwise, the most eye-catching inclusion is Gael Kakuta. The 34-year-old has had a nomadic career and is playing for Greek side Larissa. The former Chelsea midfielder has only played twice for his country in the past two years but maybe Desabre values his experience.

What else should we know about them?

Part of their recent rise has been down to a concerted recruitment drive in the Congolese diaspora. Sadiki was born in Brussels and represented Belgium at youth level. Aaron Wan-Bissaka grew up in Croydon and played for England Under-21s. Mbuku won France caps in six different age categories before switching allegiances. These players, as well as numerous others, have added real quality to Desabre’s squad. And, crucially, their integration appears to have improved the team spirit rather than undermined it.

Jack Lang

Uzbekistan

(Anvar Illyasod/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

At the earliest possible opportunity in the third round of Asian qualifiers, meaning there was no need to rely on the fourth round group stage or a play-off. They got the better of United Arab Emirates and Qatar in their group.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Non-existent. Uzbekistan are fresh-faced newbies in what will be their first World Cup at the eighth time of asking (Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union). Not that a football-mad country with a population of 36million had not come close to qualifying on a number of occasions, including for 2018 (two points short of qualifying), 2014 (missed out on goal difference) and, most notoriously, for 2006. On that occasion FIFA ordered a replay of a play-off against Bahrain when a penalty was incorrectly ruled out.

Who is the coach?

It’s none other than the man who lifted the 2006 World Cup trophy, Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro has experienced a pretty eclectic and chequered managerial career, with stints in China (Quanjian, Guangzhou Evergrande and the national team), Italy (Udinese and Benevento) and Croatia (Dinamo Zagreb) with mixed results. He was only appointed in October, with the Uzbek FA making a controversial decision to replace predecessor Timur Kapadze after he had guided them to qualification.

How do they play?

Both Kapadze and his predecessor, Slovenian Srecko Katanec — who had to step down during the qualification campaign for health reasons — enlisted attack-minded football but Cannavaro has been specifically appointed to make Uzbekistan hard to beat. Uzbek FA vice-president Ravshan Irmatov said when appointing Cannavaro: “We have seen that a defensive playing style brings results. We believe that with his international experience, professional culture and tactical structure, he will bring new spirit and a new system to our national team.” Expect them to take a big bus to park at the World Cup, then.

Who is their key player?

National hero and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is Uzbekistan’s first global football star, who in the space of just two years went from Uzbek youth football to the Champions League. It’s still rare for Uzbek footballers to fly the nest but Khusanov did so at a young age and is now a household name, with his face plastered over billboards. Only Cristiano Ronaldo can rival him for popularity in Uzbekistan and Khusanov has backed up his fame with consistently excellent performances for City in both the Premier League and Champions League. He is, by some distance, Uzbekistan’s best player.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Given the majority of the squad play in the Uzbekistan domestic league, this is likely to be one of the least well-known squads to a global audience. Other than Khusanov, the most notable exception is ex-Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov, who is set to permanently move to Istanbul Basaksehir this summer having enjoyed a hugely successful loan in 2025-26 — he was the joint-top Super Lig goalscorer with 22 goals in 34 games. Diminutive attacking midfielder Abbosbek Fayzullaev, also with Basaksehir, is another one to watch, but important defender Husniddin Aliqulov misses out with injury.

What else should we know about them?

Uzbekistan is the first double-landlocked country in the world to reach a World Cup, i.e. a country that is surrounded by countries which are themselves landlocked. Given Liechtenstein are the only other double-landlocked nation, it was Uzbekistan or no one. Uzbekistan are confident 2026 won’t be a one-off — their youngsters beat England at the Under-17 World Cup a couple of years ago and the U20 side reached the knockout phase of their tournament, having won the U20 Asian Cup in 2023, while there has been huge investment in infrastructure with new stadiums and a new national football centre.

Tim Spiers

Colombia

How did they qualify?

Colombia are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2018. Their path to the upcoming tournament included wins over Brazil and Argentina (both at home) and a 4-0 demolition of Chile. By March, though, three consecutive losses had Colombia reeling. But they avoided another qualifying disaster and eventually finished third in CONMEBOL.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

Colombia is always a neutral’s favorite. Dating back to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Colombia has entertained fans with attractive football and big personalities. Rene Higuita, Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincon preceded James Rodríguez, Radamel Falcao and Yerry Mina.

In 2026, Rodríguez, the Golden Boot winner in 2014, will captain his country for the last time at a World Cup finals. After finishing runners-up at the 2024 Copa America, Colombia will return to the U.S. with high hopes, but they will have to exorcize the demons of USA 94, a tournament that ended tragically for Colombians around the world.

Who is the coach?

Nestor Lorenzo is a former Colombia assistant under Nestor Pekerman and will now lead a team at his first World Cup finals as a head coach. He’ll have the obligation of guiding a talented side to the knockout stages. Lorenzo, 59, played for Argentina in 1990, starting as a defender in the World Cup final against West Germany. That experience may prove useful, but Lorenzo’s job was on the line during Colombia’s poor stretch during qualifying.

Lorenzo became a popular figure during Colombia’s run to the Copa America final. He has since withstood considerable pressure and will now take one of South America’s strongest teams to the U.S. with high expectations.

How do they play?

Colombia has always been a side that plays with flair. That has continued under Lorenzo, although being defensively sound became an important priority. Lorenzo’s preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1 with attacking full-backs and creative midfielders key to his tactics. With an in-form Luis Díaz at his disposal, Lorenzo has sought to tailor Colombia’s identity to suit the Bayern Munich winger.

With Rodríguez, Jhon Arías and Richard Ríos constantly around the ball, Colombia is comfortable dominating possession or sitting in a mid-block and playing in transition. There is competition for the No 9 position, a role that could define how well Colombia does next summer.

Who is their key player?

Rodríguez is Colombia’s heart and soul and arguably their greatest player. But Díaz is far and away the side’s biggest star. The former Liverpool and current Bayern Munich winger scored seven goals during World Cup qualifying, including a brace in Colombia’s 2-1 win over Brazil and a masterful solo effort that gave Colombia a much-needed 1-1 draw away to Argentina.

Díaz, 29, is in his prime and he will be highly motivated to be Colombia’s main danger man at the World Cup. The player from the small town of Barrancas will be among the tournament’s most talented players.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

For anyone who has followed Colombia since they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the current side offers little surprises in the teamsheet. Lorenzo doesn’t tinker much with his starting XI, even though Colombia’s style of play can change depending on the opponent.

This Colombia team is a band of brothers who believe they can be the generation that finally puts the national team among international football’s elite. It’s a confident side and one that will be heavily supported in both Mexico and the U.S.

What else should we know about them?

Rodríguez and Díaz are Colombia’s main stars, but Juan Fernando Quintero is the undeniable fan favorite. The diminutive Quintero is a magician on the ball and a throwback No 10 whose passing and street football flair have enthused fans throughout South America. Lorenzo is constantly asked if Rodríguez and Quintero can play together, something that happens on rare occasions.

Still, when Quintero does enter the pitch, Colombia’s attack takes on new life. The River Plate playmaker scored a goal in the 2014 and 2018 World Cup and he will look to provide more highlights for Colombia in 2026.

Felipe Cardenas

Group L

England

(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

With remarkable ease. England won all eight of their qualifiers and did not even concede a goal. They did not always dazzle, scraping a 1-0 win in Andorra in June, but they improved as it went on. A 5-0 victory in Serbia in early September was the highlight.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

England have won the World Cup once, the famous triumph in the home tournament of 1966 when they beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the final at Wembley. They reached the semi-final of Italia 90 but after that they generally underperformed, even as English football grew in strength. It was only under Gareth Southgate, their most successful manager of the modern era, that they became truly competitive in World Cups again. They reached the semi-finals in Russia in 2018, losing to Croatia in extra time. Then in Qatar in 2022 they lost a very tight quarter-final 2-1 to eventual runners-up France.

Who is the coach?

Thomas Tuchel signed as the new England head coach in October 2024, beginning his contract in January 2025. He faced plenty of early questions about his delayed start and whether he was attending enough Premier League games. He has attacked this job with his characteristic candour, speaking directly to and about the players, even when he risks upsetting them or the fans. And after much-improved performances this autumn he now looks confident and settled in the job, with a team that seems keen to play his way. So much so that he is talking openly about possibly extending his contract beyond the World Cup.

How do they play?

Tuchel has said many times that he wants England to play a dynamic, physical game akin to the Premier League. In recent games they have started to win the ball back quickly and move it swiftly. For Tuchel it is all about trying to devise an approach that he can communicate clearly, and that his players can learn fast. The challenge, of course, will be finding a style that can survive in the heat and humidity of North America next summer. Assistant coach Anthony Barry has talked about the need for a “heat-proof game model” that can survive the conditions.

Who is their key player?

Harry Kane is clearly England’s best player, and one of the greatest in the national team’s history. He has 78 international goals and is looking like an even better player now, in his third season at Bayern Munich, than at any point in his career so far. There is no one else like him in the game, a high-volume goalscorer who can also lead the line selflessly and operate as an improvisational No 10. Kane has been unfortunate in recent years, picking up injuries before major tournaments. The whole country will be hoping he arrives in North America at his absolute best.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Tuchel took a surprisingly ruthless approach to some of England’s bigger names when he chose his 26 to travel to the U.S. There was no room for Phil Foden or Cole Palmer, even though they are two of England’s most exciting talents. But neither had been in great form for his club, and neither had done much for Tuchel’s England either. There was no room for Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite injuries at right-back. Harry Maguire did not make the squad either, even though Tuchel brought him back in March.

What else should we know about them?

All the recent public discussion centred on Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder who has become one of English football’s biggest names. Southgate brought him into the England setup but it was never clear at Euro 2024 how best to use him. Now Tuchel has Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze to choose from as No 10s. He has tended to prefer Rogers, not even calling up Bellingham in October, although Bellingham returned to the team for their final qualifier in Albania in November. The debate on how best to use Bellingham will dominate 2026.

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Croatia

How did they qualify?

Top of their group after their best qualifying campaign for years. Croatia went unbeaten, scoring 26 goals and conceding only four, albeit that Czech Republic, Montenegro, a much-improved Faroe Islands and Gibraltar didn’t put up too much of a fight.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

In terms of population-to-performance, surely no nation in world football can top Croatia’s World Cup record. Since becoming a FIFA member in 1992, they have not only qualified for seven of eight tournaments, but the Balkan country with a population of under four million have reached a final (in 2018, losing against France) and two semi-finals (1998 and 2022, losing to France and Argentina respectively). Despite Opta Power Rankings rating their domestic league as the 16th strongest in world football, they consistently punch above their weight on the international stage.

Who is the coach?

A legend of Croatian football, Zlatko Dalic is the most successful manager in the history of the national team, having taken them to a World Cup final and semi-final since he took charge in 2017. To say his success was unexpected is an understatement, not just because this is Croatia, but because Dalic had a decent but fairly unremarkable managerial career up to then, managing the likes of Dinamo Tirana, Al Hilal and Al Ain. There were doubts over whether he would continue after a group stage exit in Euro 2024 but he remains in post and ready to lead his ageing team to North America.

How do they play?

Not much has changed since Euro 2024, when they were dealt a bad hand by being paired with Italy and Spain in the group stage. Croatia were experienced/old then, but they’re even more wily/over-the-hill now (delete as applicable depending on how well they do) with only Marcelo Brozovic retiring after that tournament. For their big qualifier away at Czech Republic in October, four of their six attacking players were aged 34 and older (Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir), while the then 32-year-old Mateo Kovacic is also likely to start in North America if fit. Possession and control are key for the Dad’s Army of European football, who won’t want to do much running around.

Who is their key player?

Croatia have some young players too; there are high hopes for Italy-based 22-year-old midfielders Petar Susic and Martin Baturina, of Inter and Como respectively, but for now a player almost double their age in Modric, who is also in Italy with Milan, remains the ever-present, floppy-haired metronome of this Croatian side. The 40-year-old’s longevity continues to astound and he is likely to reach the milestone of 200 international caps during what will be his fifth World Cup (Modric is currently on 194 appearances).

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

That two of their high-profile injury doubts both recovered in the nick of time. Modric suffered a fractured cheekbone against Juventus at the end of April but returned for Milan’s last match of the Serie A season, while Josko Gvardiol played a couple of times for Manchester City at the end of the campaign, having been sidelined since January with a broken shin.

Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old who hasn’t yet played for the club but spent 2025-26 on loan at Hamburg and made the Bundesliga team of the season, broke into the Croatia squad late last year and is included in the squad.

What else should we know about them?

They don’t like being underestimated. Croatia may be a small country, but they’re a footballing giant on the international stage and the natives generally feel the national team is underrated by those across the continent and beyond. Modric famously felt England and the English media had assumed victory for Gareth Southgate’s team at the semi-finals in 2018. As well as England, Croatia have beaten Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France and Netherlands in competitive matches in recent years.

Tim Spiers

Ghana

How did they qualify?

The Black Stars topped CAF Group I, registering eight wins, one draw and one defeat in an impressive campaign. It was a run that hinted at a resurgence for Ghana, who are attempting to move on from a difficult period that included them failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

What is their World Cup pedigree?

This will be their fifth World Cup finals appearance. Their most memorable outing came in 2010 when, had it not been for a handball on the goal line by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and then a terrible penalty from Asamoah Gyan, they might have been the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Their previous best was the round of 16 on debut in 2006. Their two most recent appearances, in 2014 and 2022, ended with group-stage elimination.

Who is the coach?

Otto Addo, hired in March 2024, looked to be the man to take Ghana to North America for this tournament. But disappointing performances across the AFCON qualification and in some pre-World Cup friendlies led to him being dismissed with fewer than 80 days to prepare for Ghana’s opening group-stage game against Panama.

On April 13 the Ghana Football Association announced Carlos Queiroz as the man to lead the side this summer. The veteran coach is well-travelled, defensively pragmatic and has bags of World Cup experience.

He led South Africa to qualification in 2002 (but left before the tournament), was in charge of Portugal in 2010. Queiroz also led Iran to three World Cups: 2014, 2018 and 2022.

He is well known for moulding smaller football nations into defensively resolute units that can punch above their weight. The football he brought to Iran, Egypt, Qatar and Oman has not been the most entertaining, but it has delivered some qualified success.

That will be useful to a Ghana team that has struggled to sustain attacks in open play in recent years. The Black Stars have a solid set-piece threat, thanks to the work of Gregory De Grauwe, a set-piece coach and video analyst from Addo’s setup.

The question now is whether Queiroz can improve the side’s playing style with limited training time.

How do they play?

In previous World Cups, Ghana have earned results thanks to hard-working central midfielders feeding speedy but inconsistent wingers. In the modern era, the team can be dangerous on the counter-attack in the brief periods they can get three to four players forward, but the team lacked structure when looking to build slower attacks under Addo. Queiroz has had limited time with Ghana’s players since taking over, and his coaching approach appears to be one of refining Addo’s methods, rather than outright revolution.

Queiroz has limited time and a limited player pool, but has form for building teams that are defensively stubborn and useful at set pieces. His challenge is to build on Addo’s work without Ghana’s two best centre-backs, who miss the tournament due to injury. Mohammed Kudus will also miss the World Cup due to a quadricep injury. Much will be asked of Antoine Semenyo, who had a brilliant 2025-26 first at Bournemouth before moving to Manchester City. The winger has not had the best international career to date, but this could be a tournament where he becomes a hero in his homeland.

Who is their key player?

The obvious answer might be Semenyo, but no Ghanaian player had a bigger role to play across World Cup qualifying than Jordan Ayew.

The Leicester City forward is the son of Abedi Pele — the man regarded as the greatest Ghanaian player of all time — and has faced accusations of nepotism throughout his international career. Those accusations were well and truly put to bed as Ayew registered seven goals and seven assists across qualifying – making him the most prolific African player in the lead-up to the World Cup. Ayew is now captain of his country, and while he endured a difficult club season at Leicester City, Ghana need him more than ever.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

Ghana left it late when naming their World Cup squad, announcing their 26-person selection minutes before FIFA’s June 1 deadline. Queiroz has had under two months to go through his available player options. Alexander Djiku was injured just weeks before the tournament began, while Mohammed Salisu suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of the year. Dutch-born defender Derrick Luckassen is a late replacement for Djiku, but this is a team with very little time to sort out an ever-growing list of problems.

Ghana will be without their best centre-back partnership at the World Cup, and there are questions as to who should start in goal and in central midfield.

What else should we know about them?

Caleb Yirenkyi and Kamaldeen Sulemana are two players who started their careers at the Right to Dream football academy, which looks to find the most promising young players across West Africa before then moving them within their multi-club group when they are ready for senior level football. (The injured Kudus is also a RtD graduate, as is the Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra).

Carl Anka

Panama

(Maciek Gudrymowicz/Getty Images)

How did they qualify?

After starting their qualifying campaign with two draws, Panama, the favourites in a four-team group featuring Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador, were left playing catch-up. Heading into the decisive day, Panama, facing bottom-side El Salvador, needed to better Suriname’s result. That’s what they did, beating El Salvador 3-0 while Suriname lost 3-1.

What is their World Cup pedigree?

With one previous World Cup appearance, they are relatively fresh on the scene.

They will be hoping to make a stronger impression closer to home this time around, having failed to pick up a point at the 2018 competition in Russia. Their debut could hardly have been tougher, drawn against England and Belgium, who would later meet again in the third-place play-offs as losing semi-finalists, and a spirited Tunisia.

While they were beaten 6-1 by England in their second group game, Felipe Baloy wrote his name in Panama’s sporting history at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium that day: sliding home in the 78th minute to score their first goal on sport’s biggest stage.

Who is the coach?

A former Spain international born and raised in Denmark, but most famous as a player in Germany and a manager in England, it’s perhaps no surprise that Thomas Christiansen would reach his first World Cup in another continent entirely as Panama head coach.

As a player, Christiansen spent the majority of his 14-year career playing in Spain, the country of his mother’s birth, first for Barcelona and then spells at several clubs, including Villarreal and Real Oviedo. It wasn’t until he joined Bochum in Germany, however, that Christiansen truly flourished, becoming the Bundesliga’s joint top scorer in 2002-03 with 21 goals.

He’s most familiar to English fans as an unsuccessful former manager of Leeds United, lasting just eight months before he was sacked, with the team 10th in the Championship, English football’s second tier. He has been the Panama boss since July 2020, guiding them to finals of the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League.

How do they play?

In the absence of Concacaf’s typical pace-setters Mexico, Canada and the USMNT (who all qualified automatically for the World Cup), Panama were among the strongest teams in North and Central American qualifying and played like it. Alongside Suriname, who have multiple players in Europe’s major leagues, Panama were joint-top scorers in their qualifying group with nine goals in six matches.

To judge how they are likely to set up at the World Cup, their performances at last year’s Copa America provide a better insight. In all three of their group matches, they lined up in a defensive 5-4-1 structure, looking to wide areas and the creative Adalberto Carrasquilla to provide their attacking spark. Against the odds, they finished second in their group, beating the USA and Bolivia, before being beaten 5-0 by eventual runners-up Colombia in the quarter-finals.

Who is their key player?

If Panama are to record a historic first win at the World Cup, the team will be the star. Last year’s Copa America demonstrated what they are about as a unit: hard running, last-ditch tackles and defensive discipline. Still, scoring goals takes a bit of magic, and they have one or two individuals capable of providing a spark.

Anibal Godoy is Panama’s captain fantastic and is having a strong season for San Diego in MLS. He is the beating heart of their team. But if Panama are looking for an individual for creative inspiration, the onus will fall on playmaker Carrasquilla.

What are the key things to know about their final squad?

There were no great surprises in Christiansen’s final squad, reflecting the consistency and continuity that have characterised his successful period in charge. There was some clamour to include exciting 18-year-old forward Kadir Barria, who is seen by many as the future attacking star of the national team, but Christiansen resisted the temptation. Barria has earned three caps for Panama, scoring one goal, since bursting onto the scene last year in the Brazilian top flight with Botafogo, but Christiansen went with experience for the final forward slot in his 26, preferring 27-year-old striker Tomas Rodriguez, who plays his club football for Monagas in Venezuela.

What else should we know about them?

Ahead of their 2-2 draw with Honduras during 2018 World Cup qualifying, Panamanian sporting icon and former boxing world champion Roberto Duran visited the team and delivered a motivational speech on the pitch while wearing a Panama jersey. With aspirations of winning their first World Cup match next summer, perhaps Duran, considered one of the greatest boxers in history, will send them off with another stirring speech to help them on their way.

Elias Burke

Design by Dan Goldfarb