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Thomas Tuchel has unveiled his 26-player England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his first major tournament in charge of the Three Lions.

England, the first European team to secure qualification for the competition, enter the tournament among the favourites. However, despite their depth and balance, the final squad announcement has sparked debate due to several high-profile omissions.

Among those missing are playmakers Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, both regulars in recent years. They are joined by Morgan Gibbs-White on the sidelines, with Tuchel opting instead for Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, and Morgan Rogers in the creative midfield roles.

Full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, and Lewis Hall have not made the cut, while veteran centre-back Harry Maguire is also left out. Others excluded include Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Conor Gallagher, Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah.

Ivan Toney’s inclusion among the forwards comes as a surprise, while Jordan Henderson makes history by heading to his seventh major tournament for England. Tuchel has also placed trust in newcomers Dan Burn, Noni Madueke, Jarrel Quansah, and Tino Livramento, who will all experience their first major international event.

Despite a smooth qualification campaign, England’s March friendlies brought mixed results, with defeats to Japan and a hard-fought draw against Uruguay, showing that Tuchel was still experimenting with his tactical setup.

The pressure is firmly on Tuchel, whose selection choices have already drawn scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.

Goalkeepers:
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders:
Reece James (Chelsea)
Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
Marc Guehi (Manchester City)
Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
John Stones (Manchester City)
Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)
Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders:
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Jordan Henderson (Brentford)
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Forwards:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

England’s 2026 World Cup Group L Fixtures:

June 6, 2026: England vs New Zealand – South Florida (Venue TBC), United States
June 10, 2026: England vs Costa Rica – South Florida (Venue TBC), United States
June 17, 2026: England vs Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
June 23, 2026: England vs Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States
June 27, 2026: Panama vs England – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States

Upcoming Fixtures:
September 26, 2026: England vs Spain – Wembley Stadium, London, England
September 29, 2026: Czech Republic vs England – Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
October 3, 2026: Croatia vs England – Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
October 6, 2026: England vs Czech Republic – Wembley Stadium, London, England
November 12, 2026: England vs Croatia – Wembley Stadium, London, England
November 15, 2026: Spain vs England – Venue TBC, Spain

Recent Results:
March 31, 2026: England 0-1 Japan – Wembley Stadium, London, England
March 27, 2026: England 1-1 Uruguay – Wembley Stadium, London, England
November 16, 2025: Albania 0-2 England – Arena Kombetare, Tirana, Albania
November 13, 2025: England 2-0 Serbia – Wembley Stadium, London, England
October 14, 2025: Latvia 0-5 England – Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia
October 9, 2025: England 3-0 Wales – Wembley Stadium, London, England
September 9, 2025: Serbia 0-5 England – Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
September 6, 2025: England 2-0 Andorra – Villa Park, Birmingham, England
June 10, 2025: England 1-3 Senegal – City Ground, Nottingham, England
June 7, 2025: Andorra 0-1 England – RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain
March 24, 2025: England 3-0 Latvia – City Ground, Nottingham, England
March 21, 2025: England 2-0 Albania – Wembley Stadium, London, England

England are drawn in Group L for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel is embarking on his first experience in international football, bringing with him a reputation for intense but short-lived success at club level.

Tuchel’s recent squad selections have shown a tendency to rely on experienced players rather than those currently in top form. His 35-man provisional squad for the March fixtures against Uruguay and Japan did little to clarify his tactical blueprint for the upcoming tournament.

England’s defeat to Japan, in which they played without a recognised striker, underscored the importance of captain Harry Kane. Tuchel will need to find a reliable alternative option for the World Cup campaign.

Kane, who finally lifted his first trophy last season by helping Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga with 26 goals and 10 assists in 31 appearances, will be pivotal once again. Currently ranked number one in FourFourTwo’s list of the world’s best strikers, he will aim to lead England to their first World Cup title since 1966.

With 112 caps and 78 goals already to his name, the England captain will be eager to add to both tallies as Tuchel’s side sets its sights on glory in the 2026 tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Marc Guehi, currently playing for Manchester City, also features in the squad.