England World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The England World Cup Squad 2026 is locked in, and Thomas Tuchel’s final 26-man roster carries one late twist: Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was called up on June 16 to replace Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, who withdrew with a calf injury. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer remain the headline omissions. Harry Kane captains the Three Lions at his third World Cup, equalling Billy Wright’s record, and England open Group L against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
England arrive ranked fourth in the world (FIFA, June 11, 2026) after qualifying with eight wins from eight and a 22-0 goal difference. This is your complete guide to the squad, fixtures, key players and Group L for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Man Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Jordan Pickford | Everton | 32 |
| GK | Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace | 29 |
| GK | James Trafford | Manchester City | 23 |
| DF | Dan Burn | Newcastle United | 34 |
| DF | Trevoh Chalobah | Chelsea | 26 |
| DF | Marc Guéhi | Manchester City | 25 |
| DF | Reece James | Chelsea | 25 |
| DF | Ezri Konsa | Aston Villa | 28 |
| DF | Nico O’Reilly | Manchester City | 20 |
| DF | Jarell Quansah | Bayer Leverkusen | 23 |
| DF | Djed Spence | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 |
| DF | John Stones | Manchester City | 32 |
| MF | Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest | 23 |
| MF | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | 22 |
| MF | Eberechi Eze | Arsenal | 27 |
| MF | Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United | 21 |
| MF | Declan Rice | Arsenal | 27 |
| MF | Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa | 23 |
| FW | Anthony Gordon | Barcelona | 25 |
| FW | Harry Kane (C) | Bayern Munich | 32 |
| FW | Noni Madueke | Arsenal | 24 |
| FW | Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | 28 |
| FW | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 24 |
| FW | Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli | 30 |
| FW | Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 30 |
For all 48 final rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads hub.
Squad Stats and Standout Numbers
- Average age: 26.6 years
- Youngest: Nico O’Reilly (20)
- Oldest: Jordan Henderson, who turns 36 on the day of the Croatia opener and earns a place in a record fourth World Cup squad alongside Sir Bobby Charlton
- Premier League-based: 21 of 26. The five exceptions are Kane (Bayern Munich), Bellingham (Real Madrid), Gordon (Barcelona), Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen) and Toney (Al-Ahli)
- Best represented clubs: Arsenal and Manchester City with four players each
- Tournament debutants: nine, including Trafford, Chalobah, O’Reilly, Spence, Burn, Quansah, Anderson, Madueke and Rogers
Key Players in the England World Cup Squad 2026
Harry Kane (C) | Bayern Munich
England’s all-time top scorer arrives in career-best form, having netted 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern in 2025-26 and won a second European Golden Shoe. He scored the winner in the warm-up against New Zealand and is the first name on the teamsheet.
Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid
At 22 and already at his second World Cup, Bellingham drives from deep as a box-to-box number 10, supplying Kane and arriving late in the box. Tuchel needs him at his best from the opening whistle.
Declan Rice | Arsenal
The defensive spine of Tuchel’s side. Rice screens the back four, wins the ball high and recycles it to the wide attackers. England’s press only functions when he controls the zone behind it.
Bukayo Saka | Arsenal
England’s most reliable route into the final third, combining sharp dribbling with an accurate final ball from the right wing. He carried a minor Achilles issue into the opener but is expected to feature.
Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United
Composure England’s midfield has often lacked. Mainoo receives in tight spaces, turns and finds the next pass. At his first senior tournament, he is in the mix to partner Rice in central midfield.
England World Cup 2026 Fixtures and Schedule
England play all three Group L matches in the United States. Kick-off times are shown in Eastern Time (ET) and British Summer Time (BST).
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Croatia | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Ghana | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Jun 27, 2026 | Panama | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford | 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
England open against Croatia in Dallas, travel to Boston to face Ghana, then close Group L against Panama in New Jersey. Final preparation went to plan: a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa (June 6) and a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando (June 10).
See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for knockout fixtures.
How England Qualified for World Cup 2026
England were the first UEFA nation to seal a place at the 2026 World Cup, winning Group K with eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored and none conceded. No European group produced a more emphatic winner.
Tuchel’s side opened with a 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley in March 2025 and never looked back. The standout result was a 5-0 win away in Serbia in September 2025, and qualification was confirmed on October 14, 2025 with a 5-0 win in Latvia, Kane scoring twice to wrap up the group with two games to spare.
Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel took charge as England head coach on January 1, 2025. The German, a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2021, has previously managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
His preferred shape is a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, with two midfielders shielding the back four and a mobile number 10 behind Kane. He presses high in games England should control and drops into a compact mid-block against stronger sides, working the ball quickly into wide areas through Saka and the left winger. A flawless qualifying campaign gives him real momentum heading into his first World Cup in charge.
Group L at a Glance
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 4th | 16 (1950–2022) | Champions (1966) |
| Croatia | 10th | 6 (1998–2022) | Runner-up (2018) |
| Ghana | 72nd | 4 (2006–2022) | Quarter-finals (2010) |
| Panama | 30th | 1 (2018) | Group stage (2018) |
England’s ranking is from the June 11, 2026 FIFA update; the others are from the seeding update used for the draw. World Cup appearances are pre-2026 figures.
England are strong favourites to top Group L. Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalists in 2022, are the clear danger and make the Dallas opener the real test. Ghana carry pace in attack and reached the last eight in 2010, while Panama appear at only their second World Cup.
See the full breakdown at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About the England World Cup Squad 2026
Why are Phil Foden and Cole Palmer not in England’s World Cup 2026 squad?
Both were surprise omissions from Tuchel’s final 26. He prioritised balance and in-form alternatives in midfield and attack, leaving two of the Premier League’s biggest names at home. It was the most debated call of the announcement on May 22, 2026.
Who replaced Tino Livramento in England’s World Cup squad?
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah was called up on June 16, 2026 after Livramento suffered a calf injury in training. FIFA rules allow outfield injury replacements up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, so the swap was confirmed before England’s opener against Croatia.
What TV channel shows England’s 2026 World Cup games in the US?
England’s matches are on Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming via Peacock. Fox and Telemundo hold the US rights to all 104 games of the 2026 World Cup.
When does England play at the 2026 World Cup?
England play Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Ghana on June 23 in Foxborough, and Panama on June 27 in East Rutherford. All three Group L games are in the United States, with kick-offs at 4-5pm ET (9-10pm BST).
What formation does Thomas Tuchel use with England?
Tuchel favours a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Declan Rice anchors midfield, Jude Bellingham plays as the number 10 behind Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka starts on the right. England switch between a high press and a compact mid-block depending on the opponent.
Has England beaten Croatia at the World Cup before?
The teams have met once at a World Cup: Croatia won the 2018 semi-final 2-1 after extra time in Moscow. England led through Kieran Trippier before Croatia hit back, but England beat Croatia 1-0 at Euro 2020.
England’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The England World Cup Squad 2026 looks deeper than any group taken to a major tournament in recent memory, and Tuchel has added defensive discipline to that quality. Kane, Bellingham, Rice and Saka can all decide knockout games, with genuine competition across every position.
A quarter-final is the realistic minimum, with a semi-final or better in reach if the front line clicks and injuries stay clear. It starts with Croatia in Dallas on June 17. England have not won a major tournament since 1966, and this squad may not be better placed for years to come.
