2026 World Cup squads by the numbers: oldest, youngest and most experienced

BBC Sport analysed all 2026 World Cup squads and answered key questions. The analysis examined which team is most experienced, which is youngest, and which players come from which leagues.

The 2026 World Cup squads have been confirmed and BBC Sport has put them under the microscope to compare them across various statistical measures.

The analysis examined which national team brings the most international match experience to the tournament – that is, which players have accumulated the most caps throughout their careers. The study also looked at which teams are built around younger talent and which rely on experienced veterans.

Special attention was paid to the question of which world's top leagues are most represented at the World Cup and which club has provided the most participants to the tournament. This gives an insight into where the world's best footballers are currently playing.

The World Cup will take place in three countries for the first time – the United States, Canada and Mexico – and the tournament has been expanded to 48 participating nations, meaning squad diversity is significantly greater than before.