The World Cup is now just days away from kickoff, with all 48 participating national teams having already submitted their final squads for the tournament in North America.
Several teams, however, embracing the age of social media and creative video content, chose unconventional ways to announce the players who will represent them at the World Cup.
Until recently, each national team's head coach would simply hold a press conference and reveal the squad list live on air.
This year, though, some football associations opted for a more imaginative approach, enlisting celebrities, politicians, and even their country's monarch to unveil the players' names—as Spain did with its king.
At Euronews, we have compiled some of the most creative and entertaining announcement videos and present them below.
England and Beatles...Come together
Using The Beatles' iconic song Come Together as its soundtrack, England unveiled its squad list through a beautifully crafted video that celebrated the connection between the national team and its supporters, highlighting the role football plays in communities throughout England while building excitement ahead of the tournament.
Curacao teaches Papiamentu to the world
The national team of Curaçao, a Caribbean island nation with a population of just 155,000, is living and breathing the dream of qualifying for the World Cup. Shortly before announcing its squad for the tournament, the team released a moving video featuring Papiamentu, the island’s local language. The goal? To teach the world a few words from this small but proud nation.
New Zealand: Kiwi in the forefront
New Zealand chose an unconventional approach to unveil its squad for the 2026 World Cup, opting for humor and national identity over the usual suspense-filled presentation. Rather than spotlighting players through dramatic cinematics, the video showcases a series of amusing everyday moments and distinctly Kiwi references, with each scene cleverly revealing a member of the team. Accompanied by an energetic soundtrack, the announcement doubles as a celebration of Aotearoa's culture, scenery, and laid-back spirit. on serves as a light-hearted showcase of the country's personality and charm.
Norway: King Harald V and everyday life
Norway took a deeply symbolic approach to unveiling its World Cup squad, placing the announcement in the hands of King Harald V. As the monarch addressed the nation, the video moved through scenes of everyday Norwegian life, from children playing football to people gathering in communities across the country. Rather than introducing the players directly, their names appeared naturally within the imagery, connecting the squad to the places and people they represent.
Spain: From the King to the people
Spain transformed its World Cup squad announcement into a celebration of national unity, placing ordinary citizens at the heart of the reveal. The video opens with a message from King Felipe VI, who describes the squad as "the list of an entire country" before passing the spotlight to people from all walks of life. Fishermen, teachers, taxi drivers, bakers, students, scientists, and other citizens from across Spain each announce a player selected for the tournament.
Portugal: Traditional but emotional presentation
Portugal opted for a more traditional approach when unveiling its World Cup squad, placing the focus firmly on the players and the significance of the moment. The announcement highlighted a generation of talent blending experienced leaders with emerging stars, while anticipation centered on Cristiano Ronaldo's historic sixth World Cup appearance. The reveal also carried an emotional undertone, paying tribute to Diogo Jota and acknowledging his lasting connection to the national team.
Germany: From children to the final stage of the World Cup
Germany's squad announcement stood out because it focused on the players' personal journeys rather than celebrities or public figures. Instead of simply revealing names, the video featured childhood footage, family videos, and memories from the players' early years, showing them long before they became international stars. Each selection was accompanied by nostalgic clips that highlighted the dreams, sacrifices, and moments that shaped their path to the World Cup.
Argentina: Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni shares the official Argentina squad list for the FIFA World Cup in a powerful and emotional message to all Argentinians through a letter. In a simple yet meaningful presentation, the head coach reveals the players who will represent the nation on football’s biggest stage.
Netherlands: Is it a new movie trailer?
The Netherlands presented their World Cup team like a movie or series trailer, starring their 26 footballers, following the contemporary paradigm of trailers in streaming platforms.
Scotland: Ewan Mcgregor's short film
The video is styled more like a short film than a simple list. It builds atmosphere around Scotland’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, mixing emotional narration, fan footage, and player highlights. A standout feature is the narration by actor Ewan McGregor, whose voice guides the reveal in a dramatic tone.
Uzbekistan: Pride, fans, players and new era for Uzbek football
Uzbekistan’s World Cup 2026 squad reveal video presents a cinematic and AI-enhanced celebration marking the nation’s historic first-ever qualification for the tournament, blending traditional Uzbek cultural motifs with modern digital visuals. The video emphasizes national pride and identity, showing the transformation of Uzbek ornamental patterns into the team’s blue and white kit, intercut with training footage, stadium atmosphere, and emotional fan scenes, ultimately culminating in a heroic group shot of the squad framed as a “new era” for Uzbek football on the world stage.
USA: Fast-paced video with action clips
USA choose to publish a fast paced video of its World Cup squad featuring the 26 selected players introduced through match highlights and stadium crowd footage. The video emphasizes star names such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, and Tim Ream, while also showcasing emerging and MLS-based players through brief action clips.
Brazil: Carlo Ancelotti's traditional announcement
Brazil unveiled their final squad through a traditional live event, where Carlo Ancelotti opened the presentation before formally announcing the selected players in a packed room of journalists.
Colombia: Tradition blended with action clips
Colombia’s 2026 World Cup squad reveal video was a mix of the traditional announcement by the head coach Néstor Lorenzo, blended with special video of highlights for each player.
France: Sitcom style presentation
France’s 2026 World Cup squad announcement video is a highly creative, sitcom-style cinematic reveal that blends humor, storytelling, and national identity rather than a standard press conference format. The video is styled like a fictional American TV intro set around France’s tournament base in the United States, where everyday “U.S.-themed” scenes—such as diners, barbecue culture, and even traffic jams—are humorously woven into the narrative as if the French team is adapting to life in America ahead of the World Cup.
Canada: Co-hosts present cities and team
Canada’s 2026 World Cup squad reveal video is presented as a clean, modern, and emotionally grounded cinematic announcement that highlights both the nation’s co-host status and the growth of Canadian soccer on the global stage. The video typically opens with atmospheric shots of Canadian cities, stadium lights, and fans in red and white, before shifting into fast-cut highlights from football matches that showcase key moments of intensity, celebration, and defensive resilience.
Senegal: Epic presentation becomes viral
Senegal's official 28-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 was unveiled by head coach Pape Thiaw on May 21, 2026, through a critically acclaimed cinematic presentation. The Senegal Football Federation's reveal video features epic savanna landscapes, tribal imagery, lions, and an appearance by the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
