World Cup squad numbers confirmed

Sixteen Manchester United players will travel to the tournament in Qatar, which begins on Sunday when the host nation face Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

The competition will end four weeks later, on 18 December, when the final is scheduled for the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

As the 26-man selections have now been finalised, we can now confirm the squad numbers that the Reds will be wearing during the World Cup. 

Honoured to be presented with the famous no.6 shirt by Prince William 6️⃣🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #FIFAWorldCup #England #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/PTBYw8NSPy

— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) November 15, 2022

Eight is the most popular number, as four players will sport it out in the Middle East.

Fred and Bruno Fernandes are no strangers to international action and played vital roles for Brazil and Portugal respectively during qualification, but Hannibal and Facundo Pellistri are still at the beginning of their careers and being handed such a low number could indicate that they will be given significant minutes by Tunisia and Uruguay.

The only other number shared by two Reds is 16, with left-backs Tyrell Malacia and Alex Telles – who is currently on loan with Sevilla – looking forward to their first World Cups.

The same can be said for Diogo Dalot, who will sport no.2 for Portugal, but Luke Shaw (no.3), Raphael Varane (no.4) and Casemiro (no.5) are all experienced on the global stage.

So too is Harry Maguire and the United captain retains the no.6 he wore during titanic performances at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s no.7 and Christian Eriksen wears no.10 for Denmark and those shirts have of course been iconic down the years at the World Cup.

Marcus Rashford reprises his role as England’s no.11 from the Euros, while Antony has been handed no.19 by Brazil in what is his maiden senior Selecao tournament.

This World Cup is the first in which 26-man squads are allowed and all 32 nations, bar Iran, have taken the opportunity to name an extra three players compared to last time out in Russia.

Our popular defender Lisandro Martinez wears no.25 for Argentina, although he will be hoping to plant himself firmly in Lionel Scaloni’s starting XI, especially after his assured recent performances in the red shirt.

CONFIRMED SQUAD NUMBERS

2: Diogo Dalot
3: Luke Shaw
4: Raphael Varane
5: Casemiro
6: Harry Maguire
7: Cristiano Ronaldo
8: Hannibal, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Facundo Pellistri
10: Christian Eriksen
11: Marcus Rashford
16: Tyrell Malacia, Alex Telles
19: Antony
25: Lisandro Martinez