Day 27 until kickoff
The squad announcements are coming fast now — and today's dispatches from France and Belgium confirm what we suspected: the biggest names are on the plane, the hard cuts have been made, and the tournament is suddenly, viscerally real.
France locked in their 26-man squad Thursday, with Didier Deschamps naming a forward line that reads like a fantasy manager's fever dream: Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Doue, Barcola, Cherki, Mateta, Akliouche, and Thuram. The notable cut: Eduardo Camavinga, who endured a rough Champions League exit and lost his spot to a crowded midfield. France open Group I against Senegal at MetLife on June 16.
Belgium named their squad Friday, and the headline is Romelu Lukaku — included despite playing just five Serie A games for Napoli this season due to injury. Kevin de Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois join him for a fourth World Cup campaign; so does 37-year-old Axel Witsel, Belgium's most-capped player at 136 appearances. Seventeen-year-old Nathan de Cat — who debuted in March — did not make the cut. Belgium open Group G against Egypt on June 15.
France's surprise inclusion is worth a closer look: Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who only received his first international call-up last October, fought back from a knee injury, a failed January move to AC Milan, and disgruntled fans to earn his World Cup spot on the back of a strong spring — including two goals against Newcastle. Ligue 1's top scorer, Esteban Lepaul (19 goals), was left home anyway. That's France for you.
Mexico released a preliminary squad of 55 players on May 12, per ESPN's squad tracker, with the official 26-man list coming from Javier Aguirre on Wednesday, May 27. The preliminary list includes Guillermo Ochoa, Edson Álvarez, and Obed Vargas (Atlético de Madrid) — the cuts to 26 will tell us everything about Aguirre's tactical intentions for the hosts' opening match against South Africa on June 11 at the Azteca.
Bosnia-Herzegovina have confirmed their squad for Group B, headlined by Edin Džeko (Schalke) and Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart), with PSV Eindhoven's Esmir Bajraktarević among the younger names to watch. They face Canada on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto.
On the stadium front, the AFP's full venue guide published today confirms the Estadio Azteca will become the first stadium to host World Cup matches across three separate tournaments — 1970, 1986, and now 2026. Vancouver's BC Place, meanwhile, will host seven matches including two knockout games, making it one of the busiest venues in the draw.
Kit culture note: Outerstuff — an officially licensed FIFA partner — launched a World Cup 2026 collection at PacSun today, blending football graphics with streetwear silhouettes in men's and women's styles. It's the clearest sign yet that the tournament's commercial machine has fully switched on — the merch is in the mall, people.