How Are Players Selected For The World Cup?

Ultimately, the 23 players who represent their country at the World Cup are chosen by that country's head coach. The coaches initially submit a preliminary 30-man roster (due one month before the competition begins), then trim that down to a 23-man squad two weeks before the cup begins.

There's only one restriction to squad selection - the 23-man squad must contain at least three goalkeepers. If a coach wanted to pick three goalies and twenty defenders, they could...although it probably wouldn't be a great idea.

Despite FIFA's rules, the decision-making that goes into the selection process is slightly different from country to country. For a team like Brazil or Germany, the best players will be fairly obvious - they're the ones playing in the best leagues and getting all the media attention. If a major country leaves out an established star, the coach will be in for a real headache when the papers come out the next day.

For a less-established soccer power like Iran or Cameroon, the coach has much more freedom to pick players at their discretion - if they've worked with a player before and trust them to perform, it doesn't matter if they're a relative unknown on the world stage. The influence of the media means that smaller countries have more freedom to experiment and build unique, interesting squads - and the results are sometimes exciting and unexpected.

 

With all the fanfare around the 2014 World Cup, we’re answering all the questions soccer initiates might have about the world’s most-watched sporting event. Make sure to check out our Ultimate World Cup Guide for the complete FAQ!

 

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