World football’s governing body, FIFA, have given the 32 participating teams at this summer’s World Cup in Russia the squad submission deadline of June 4.

The participating teams will be able to name a preliminary squad of 35 for the first time in history by the May 14 deadline.

This represents an increase from the regular preliminary squad of 30 just like what was obtainable with the 2014 FIFA World Cup squads.

The squad of 35 will then be pruned down to the final 23-man list by the June 4 deadline.

All eyes would be on world champions Germany as they try to ward off the challenges of other countries in the bid to retain the title they won in Brazil 2014.