FIFA Sets Deadline for First Expanded Preliminary World Cup Squad List

Each of the 32 participating teams must submit a preliminary list of players for the World Cup by Friday in order to begin selecting their squads for the tournament in Qatar.

According to FIFA standards, all teams must submit a list of at least 35 players and a maximum of 55 players by Friday. Moreover, the final squad must be drawn from the preliminary list and cannot be changed for three weeks.

FIFA will not publish the preliminary selection, although teams may reveal their preferences. Since Russia's tournament and previous editions, this is the first time a World Cup preliminary list has been expanded to 55 players.

This year's squads will include 26 members instead of the standard 23 to accommodate for injuries and the tournament's schedule, which begins amid various football seasons.

FIFA will compel all teams to declare their World Cup lineups on November 14, a few days before the tournament.

Qatar confident

Meanwhile, the host country said on Monday that it is prepared to host the FIFA World Cup in a little over a month.

At the "One Month to Go" news conference, World Cup Chief Executive Officer Nasser Al Khater praised his staff and all those participating.

“Qatar is ready to host a global celebration of the beautiful game,” he said.

“We look forward to welcoming fans and players from across the world as they sample our welcoming hospitality, a vast array of entertainment options, and, of course, top-class international football. 

“It promises to be a unique edition of the FIFA World Cup – and one that will leave a lasting, positive impact on Qatar, the Middle East, and the Arab world,” said Al Khater.

Yasir Al Jamal, Director General of, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), said: “We look forward to hosting a tournament that will live long in the memory of fans from across the globe”

The upcoming World Cup in Qatar will feature 74 pitches, including team training grounds and the country's eight stadiums.

“Pitches are of course, at the top of our priority list, both at the training sites and across the stadiums. In total, we’ve got 74 pitches that make up this World Cup, eight in the stadium, 32 in the base camps where there will be two training sites each, and also a referee at base camp,” FIFA’s Smith said.

Over 700 groundkeepers will operate all stadiums, which will feature artificial grow lights to supplement the natural light lost due to roof shade.

Qatar has developed eight World Cup venues, all of which have been tested in important events over the previous two years. The iconic Lusail Stadium was recently trialed during the Lusail Super Cup, which featured Egypt's Zamalek and Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli.

While the stadiums have been finished, final building projects around the country, like roadwork in the capital Doha, are still racing against the clock.