Malta’s national team head coach, Emilio De Leo, has named his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. De Leo has already made history by selecting all nine foreign-based players—the most ever called up for Malta.
Malta will begin their Group G campaign with a home match against Finland on Friday, 21 March 2025, at Ta’ Qali National Stadium, kicking off at 20:45. This will be De Leo’s first game in charge since his appointment in January. Three days later, Malta will travel to Warsaw to face Poland at the Stadion Narodowy on Monday, 24 March, also at 20:45.
Among the new names in the squad, Jake Azzopardi (Valletta FC) and Mattia Veselji (FK Smederevo 1924, Serbia) have earned their first senior call-ups. Additionally, 17-year-old goalkeeper James Sissons (Melita FC) has been included, showing De Leo’s focus on developing young talent.
They join other fresh faces, including James Carragher (Wigan Athletic, England) and Illyas Chouaref (Sion FC, Switzerland), in a squad that balances youth and experience.
Malta’s 26-man squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Rashed Al Tumi (FC Sheriff Tiraspol – Moldova)
- Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans FC)
- James Sissons (Melita FC)
Defenders:
- Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC)
- Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC)
- Steve Borg (Ħamrun Spartans FC)
- Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC)
- James Carragher (Wigan Athletic FC – England)
- Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC)
- Zach Muscat (Şanlıurfaspor – Turkey)
- Enrico Pepe (Gżira United FC)
- Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana FC)
- Kurt Shaw (Hibernians FC)
Midfielders:
- Jake Azzopardi (Valletta FC)
- Matthew Guillaumier (FKS Stal Mielec – Poland)
- Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC)
- Steven Pisani (Sliema Wanderers FC)
- Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara FC)
- Teddy Teuma (Stade de Reims – France)
Forwards:
- Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC)
- Paul Mbong (Birkirkara FC)
- Kyrian Nwoko (Sliema Wanderers FC)
- Basil Tuma (Reading U21 – England)
- Mattia Veselji (FK Smederevo 1924 – Serbia)
- Trent Buhagiar (Kapaz PFK – Azerbaijan)
- Illyas Chouaref (FC Sion – Switzerland)
Malta will be looking to make a strong start under their new coach as they take on Finland and Poland in their first two World Cup qualifiers.
