FIFA Club Player Release Deadline — Clubs Worldwide Required to Release World Cup Squads by May 25

May 24, 2026 marked the final club matchday for players named in confirmed World Cup squads, with FIFA's mandatory release protocol requiring clubs to release selected players to their national teams by May 25. Exceptions were granted for clubs participating in continental finals through May 30 — most notably Achraf Hakimi (PSG), who must be available for the UEFA Champions League Final vs Arsenal on May 31 before joining Morocco. Players from all 48 qualified nations began the transition to national team training camps during this window. The release deadline is a critical logistical milestone with the tournament opening June 11 at Estadio Azteca. Several clubs pushed back on early release dates due to end-of-season fixtures, with Real Madrid and Manchester City among those completing league campaigns to the final day.