2010 FIFA World Cup squads

The 2010 FIFA World Cup marked a historic moment in international football, taking place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July. This tournament featured thirty-two national teams, each required to assemble a squad of twenty-three players eligible to compete. The process began with the announcement of a preliminary squad of thirty players by 11 May 2010, exactly thirty days prior to the tournament's commencement.

In a unique twist, players listed in the preliminary squad were mandated to observe a rest period from 17 to 23 May 2010, ensuring they were in peak condition for the competition. By 1 June 2010, teams had to finalize their rosters, trimming the preliminary list down to the required twenty-three players. Notably, teams were allowed to replace seriously injured players up until twenty-four hours before their first match, providing flexibility in squad management.

This World Cup was groundbreaking in that every participating team included at least one player from a European club, with North Korea being the sole exception, featuring just one player, Hong Yong-jo. Additionally, three national squads—England, Italy, and Germany—were composed entirely of players from domestic clubs, while Nigeria stood out as the only team without any domestic club representation.