26World
Cup

Group L · · FIFA #4 · 8/1

England flag

England

2021

Tuchel's ruthlessly pruned, Arsenal-heavy England chase a first World Cup since 1966, opening vs Croatia on June 17 amid debate over omitted stars and a stuttering final warm-up.

Coach Thomas Tuchel (German) · since January 2025

Matches

EnglandEngland flag1–0Croatia flagCroatia
Group L · Arlington · 15:00 CDT55 · 25 · 20
EnglandEngland flag2–0Ghana flagGhana
Group L · Foxborough · 16:00 EDT79 · 15 · 7
PanamaPanama flag0–2England flagEngland
Group L · East Rutherford · 17:00 EDT10 · 16 · 75
EnglandEngland flag1–0Senegal flagSenegal
Round of 32 · Atlanta · 12:00 EDT58 · 24 · 17
MexicoMexico flag0–1England flagEngland
Round of 16 · Mexico City · 18:00 CST26 · 27 · 46
BrazilBrazil flag0–1England flagEngland
Quarter-final · Miami Gardens · 17:00 EDT32 · 29 · 39
EnglandEngland flag0–1Argentina flagArgentina
Semi-final · Atlanta · 15:00 EDT29 · 28 · 43
FranceFrance flag1–0England flagEngland
Third place · Miami Gardens · 17:00 EDT41 · 28 · 31

Key players

  • Harry KaneST · Bayern Munich

    Captain and all-time top scorer; headed winner vs New Zealand in final home warm-up

  • Jude BellinghamAM · Real Madrid

    Talisman expected to carry creative burden in midfield

  • Bukayo SakaRW · Arsenal

    First-choice on the right; joined camp late after Arsenal duty

  • Declan RiceDM · Arsenal

    Midfield anchor and undisputed starter

  • Eberechi EzeAM · Arsenal

    In pole position for the No.10 role after Palmer and Foden were omitted

  • Jordan PickfordGK · Everton

    At his third World Cup, established No.1

  • John StonesCB · Manchester City

    Third World Cup but fitness has been an issue all season

  • Marcus RashfordLW · Barcelona

    Revived under Tuchel, heading to his third World Cup

  • Ivan ToneyST · Al-Ahli

    Shock recall despite only seven minutes under Tuchel

  • Jordan HendersonCM · Brentford

    Record-equalling fourth World Cup as veteran leader

Injuries / doubts

  • Tino Livramento (thigh) - named in squad despite injury-wrecked season, major fitness doubt
  • Reece James (hamstring) - only just back in action but expected to play
  • Djed Spence (broken jaw) - selected despite fracturing jaw days before squad announcement
  • John Stones - fitness being carefully managed after injury-hit season

Recent form

2026-06-10Costa Rica0-0 DFriendly
2026-06-06New Zealand1-0 WFriendly
2026-03-31Japan0-1 LFriendly
2026-03-27Uruguay1-1 DFriendly
2025-11-16Albania (a)2-0 WWC Qualifier
2025-11-13Serbia2-0 WWC Qualifier

News

2026-06-10

England held 0-0 by Costa Rica as Tuchel's lineup questioned

Flat final warm-up in Orlando; Saka, Rice, Eze and Madueke had only just joined the camp

2026-06-09

Saka Achilles issue lingering; Tuchel says he cannot train consecutive days and is not near 100% before Croatia

2026-06-06

England 1-0 New Zealand: Kane header seals warm-up win

Captain's goal gives Three Lions a winning send-off in final home friendly

2026-05-22

First England World Cup squad since 1986 without a Liverpool player

Tuchel's selection notable for zero Liverpool representation and Henderson's record-equalling fourth World Cup

2026-05-22

Ruthless Tuchel names 26-man squad, big names axed

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Morgan Gibbs-White all left out; Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins recalled

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