World Cup 2022: complete guide to all 830 players

Jan 28, 2024

Everything you need to know (and more) about every squad member in Qatar. Click on the player pictures for a fuller profile and match ratings

This is Ecuador’s fourth World Cup and there are hopes they will equal their best performance, reaching the last 16. Read the team guide here.

Ecuador have a very young team and with that comes speed, energy and adrenaline, with several new talents hoping to make their mark.

Goalscoring. La Tricolor do not concede a lot but on the other hand they don’t find the net that often themselves either.

The Dutch arrive in decent shape with Van Gaal set to become the most successful Oranje coach ever win-wise. Read the team guide here.

The switch to 5-3-2 seems to have worked well, although some players were initially against it, and the form is good, as the Nations League showed.

Creativity wise they are dependent on De Jong and Depay, both of whom who have suffered from injuries this season.

A historic first World Cup beckons for the hosts but they are in a tough group with Senegal, Netherlands and Ecuador. Read the team guide here.

Familiarity. Coach Sánchez has been in charge since 2017 and key members of the team have emerged together from the Aspire Academy.

Physically this is a team that has been outmuscled on a number of occasions. How they cope off the ball will be crucial.

The reigning Afcon champions have great ambitions for the World Cup to end an already good year on a high. Read the team guide here.

Cissé has created a hard-working team and maybe Dia can shoulder some of the responsibility up front with Mané injured.

Quite a few players have struggled with injuries and/or being out of their club sides and arrive lacking playing time.

Semi-finalists in 2018 – and Euro finalists three years later – Southgate’s side aim to go all the way – but have they peaked? Read the team guide here.

In Kane England have one of the most lethal goalscorers around and he is backed up by creative, young talent such as Foden and Saka.

Southgate has been criticised for being overly cautious and there are real concerns about the defence because of injuries and poor form.

This will be Iran’s sixth World Cup and, boosted by a good performance in Russia, their aim is to get out of the group. Read the team guide here.

The reappointment of Carlos Queiroz means that Team Melli are very unlikely to concede any soft goals. He offers defensive stability.

The handling of the former coach, Skocic, divided senior players and those feelings could resurface should Iran get off to a bad start.

USA are back at the World Cup after missing out on Russia but qualifying was anything but plain sailing. Read the team guide here.

Coach Berhalter has injected youth into the squad and the press can be effective, while there is creativity up front with Pulisic, Reyna and Aaronson.

Centre-back and centre-forward positions are problematic and frequent injuries have prevented Berhalter from playing his best XI.

Wales arrive for their first World Cup in 64 years free of expectation but are determined to do more than merely make up the numbers. Read the team guide here.

A band of brothers spirit underpins a modest squad decorated with a pair of game-changers in Bale and Ramsey.

If Joe Allen is not fit, they could lack nous in midfield. They also have only one bona fide No 9 in the squad in Moore

Argentina arrive in Qatar in unashamedly good shape having gone 35 games undefeated. Read the team guide here.

Scaloni has created a team and made Messi smile while playing for his country again. That may take them far.

Losing Lo Celso to injury is a blow – he is an important player for Argentina – and Romero’s hamstring problems are a worry too.

El Tri have reached the Last 16 in every tournament since 1994 but that record feels under threat now. Read the team guide here.

Mexico should be able to cause opponents real problems on the wings with Vega and Lozano both dangerous and hard-working.

Psychologically they seem to fall apart as soon as they concede and can be really inconsistent in games.

Having qualified Poland have a new target: reaching the knockout round for the first time in 40 years. Read the team guide here.

Firepower. In Lewandowski Poland have one of the best strikers in the world, with other players capable of scoring too.

Defensive consistency. This has been lost since Euro 2016 and Poland can concede a lot of goals.

Renard’s new generation dominated Asian qualifying, but face a tough ask to repeat the achievements of 1994’s groundbreaking squad. Read the team guide here.

They boast the Middle East’s finest player in Al Dawsari, plus a welcome blend of experience and youth. Conceded only 10 goals in 18 qualifiers.

Goals have dried up and there is no clear favourite to start up top. Expected No 1 Al Owais is short of match practice.

Australia have had their hopes of progression from a tough group further tempered by a spate of injuries. Read the team guide here.

The Socceroos are more than the sum of their parts and, cringeworthy as it may sound, have a collective mentality built to exceed expectations.

A dearth of problem-solving skills against hard-to-break-down opposition is problematic, as is midfield possession and defensive mobility.

Having reached the semi-finals at the Euros and beaten France twice in the Nations League, Denmark arrive high on confidence. Read the team guide here.

Denmark are a well organised team, defending well as a unit and able to change formation and tactics during the game.

Some of the forwards are out of form and goals could be a problem. A lot, as always, will depend on Eriksen.

Fourth in the world rankings, this is a squad in flux, not unlike the one that showed promise in 2014. Read the team guide here.

France’s attack is their strong point – they have shown themselves capable of scoring nearly at will with a full complement of players.

Defence: injuries and a loss of form have decimated France’s back line. Pogba and Kanté will be missed in midfield too.

Tunisia have lost only once since January but the 5-1 defeat against Brazil showed how far up it is to the top sides. Read the team guide here.

The midfield is the team’s strongest area with Ferencvaros’ Laïdouni capable of running the show against most opponents.

Against better teams they struggle to create chances and are a bit too reliant on 32-year-old captain Msakni.

Coach Suárez only arrived in the middle of 2021 but has completely revamped the squad. Read the team guide here.

The youngsters, such as 18-year-old Bennette, has had a really positive impact while there is stability in defence.

This Costa Rica team does not score a lot of goals (13 in 14 qualifiers) and at one point Suárez tested too many players.

Germany may be one of the giants of world football but they are having a wobble. Semi-finals still a minimum requirement though. Read the team guide here.

There are so many good creative midfielders that someone such as Gündogan may not start. Sané and Gnabry offer real threat from the flanks.

The midfield is vulnerable defensively and there is no world-class central striker. Also, the quality of the full-backs are not at the highest level.

Moriyasu has overhauled the squad and brought through a new generation with such little fuss that the public do not give him enough credit. Read the team guide here.

With Tomiyasu and Yoshida at the back, plus Endo and Morita anchoring the midfield, this is arguably Japan’s strongest defensive foundation ever.

Moriyasu gets criticised whomever he picks among the many attacking options but Japan do have an issue finding the right fit at No 9.

‘We go for the win from the first minute,’ says Luis Enrique and Spain expect to go far as always. Read the team guide here.

Gavi and Pedro offer exuberance and energy in midfield and have a certain Busquets by their side to protect them (and the defence).

Goals are not always that easy to come by and Morata was heavily criticised by fans at the Euros. He is still Spain’s focal point.

There is the sense that this generation of players have peaked and that the bronze from four years ago is as good as it will get. Read the team guide here.

There is an abundance of talent in the squad and any team with Courtois and De Bruyne will be expected to go deep into the tournament.

The defence is ageing and slow and the main goal threat, Lukaku, has been struggling with injuries this season.

Back on the biggest stage after a 36-year absence they were the best team in Concacaf qualifying, finishing above Mexico and USA. Read the team guide here.

Players such as Davies, David and Buchanan offer speed and explosiveness in transition. The team spirit is superb too.

Canada lack experience at this level and do not have the star power in defence they have in other outfield areas.

Reached the final four years ago and have the potential to play even better this time. It is a new team but with the same midfield core. Read the team guide here.

The classy midfield can dictate games and the new defence looks good. Croatia have a remarkably deep and versatile squad.

The goalkeepers are unreliable; the defenders inexperienced and there is no established goal-scoring presence up front.

A second consecutive Word Cup for the Atlas Lions, they qualified for Qatar without many of the mainstays from four years ago. Read the team guide here.

There is stardust in Hakimi and Ziyech in a hard-working squad with Amrabat offering balance in midfield.

Coach Regragui has been accused of playing defensive football in the past and has only been able to work with the squad for two and a half months.

One of the favourites, they are ranked the best team in the world and there seems to be harmony in the squad. Read the team guide here.

Brazil still have Neymar but are no longer Neymar-dependant with Vini Jnr, Richarlison and Raphinha taking some weight off the No 10’s shoulders.

Tite has said he may play five attacking players, which would leave Casemiro vulnerable, and the defence is not the quickest.

There is a lack of stars in Cameroon’s squad but that may not be a bad thing. Read the team guide here.

The squad has an impressive mental strength and the FA has worked hard to add players of dual nationality, such as Mbeumo.

The coaching staff and players have only worked with each other for eight months and form has been patchy.

Every tournament is the same in Serbia: expectations that do not match the reality. However, there may be ground for optimism this time. Read the team guide here.

All the attacking players are on the rise and full of confidence. There are no egos and coach Stojkovic gives them freedom to play.

The defence does not instil a lot of confidence in Serbian fans and one single mistake can lead to a full-blown collapse.

Yakin has been able to build on Petkovic’s foundation and they stayed in the Nations League top group despite a poor start. Read the team guide here.

The generation that won the Under-17 World Cup in 2009 are in their peak years and players such as Akanji and Embolo are in fine form.

Three of the four goalkeepers have had injury problems and the decision to take only two recognised full-backs could backfire.

This is a young Black Stars team in transition. The quality is there but this World Cup could be either a spectacular failure or a rip-roaring success. Read the team guide here.

Ghana outsmarted Nigeria in the play-off and have added players of dual nationality since then, especially in defence and on the wings, and look better for it.

Where will the goals come from? That is the main question for coach Addo. If that is answered, Ghana could go far in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s power is on the wane and Fernando Santos has lost some of the credit gained in 2016 but Portugal have never had a stronger squad. Read the team guide here.

Portugal have excellent goalkeepers, some of the best full-backs in the world and quality solutions all over midfield. Oh, and firepower up front.

Santos does not have an abundance of centre-backs and up front Ronaldo’s struggles and Jota’s injury have cast a cloud over the preparations.

Things were looking good for manager Bento, until Son broke his eye socket. He could still play though. Read the team guide here.

Bento’s 4-1-4-1 system worked well in qualifying with a 2-0 win against Iran the highlight.

Son’s injury the major concern but several key players, such as the two Hwangs and Kwon, have been out of form.

Uruguay are an unknown quantity but Diego Alonso has a good mix of youth and experience in the squad. Read the team guide here.

Alonso has one of the best midfields at the tournament, led by Valverde, while Núñez, Suárez and Cavani are a threat up front.

There are huge question marks about the defence with the fitness of Godín, Giménez and Araujo uncertain.

.