Head coach Emilio De Leo has finalised Malta’s squad for next Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers, cutting down the provisional 35-man list to a final selection of 26 players (+2 who are suspended for the first match). The decision was confirmed this morning, ahead of two key Group G fixtures against Lithuania and the Netherlands.

Malta will resume its campaign by hosting Lithuania on Saturday, June 7 at the National Stadium (kick-off: 18:00), before traveling to Groningen for a daunting clash against the Netherlands on June 10 at the Euroborg Stadion (kick-off: 20:45).

As part of the final selection, De Leo made a notable inclusion — Keyon Ewurum, a promising youngster who was not part of the initial provisional squad.  Ewurum plies his trade at Valletta FC and was born in 2007, making him the youngest player in the squad — a month younger than goalkeeper James Sissons.  Meanwhile, Ilyas Chouaref will miss both matches as he serves a two-game suspension.

Additionally, Kurt Shaw and Gabriel Mentz, included in the final list, are suspended for the Lithuania game but will be available for the match against the Netherlands.

The team is set to hold two training sessions today following the morning announcement. The evening session, scheduled for 18:15, will be open to the public at the National Football Centre. Fans attending will have the opportunity to watch the squad train, and afterwards, they’ll be invited to meet the players, take photos, and collect autographs.

With expectations rising and crucial points at stake, Malta’s streamlined squad will be looking to make a strong impact in this next phase of World Cup qualifying.

The squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers
Rashed Al Tumi (FC Sheriff Tiraspol – MDA), Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans FC), James Sissons (Melita FC).

Defenders
Zach Muscat (Sanliurfaspor – TUR), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana FC), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk FC), James Lee Carragher (Wigan Athletic FC – ENG), Kurt Shaw* (Hibernians FC), Enrico Pepe (Gżira United FC), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Gabriel Mentz* (Gżira United FC), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Midfielders                                                                    

Matthew Guillaumier (FKS Stal Mielec Spolka Akcyjna – POL), Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians FC), Alexander Satariano (Birkirkara FC), Jake Azzopardi (Valletta FC), Teddy Teuma (Stade de Reims FC – FRA), Jake Grech (Floriana FC), Steven Pisani (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Forwards                        
Joseph E. Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC), Jodi Jones (Notts County FC – ENG), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara FC), Basil Tenywa Tuma (Reading FC – ENG), Kyrian Nwoko (Sliema Wanderers FC), Keyon Ewurum (Valletta FC).

*suspended for the match against Lithuania