With just five weeks remaining until the 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11, England manager Thomas Tuchel is facing the challenging task of finalizing his 26-man squad. The Three Lions aim to end their 60-year wait for a men's World Cup trophy, having last triumphed in 1966. Tuchel's side begins their Group L campaign against Croatia on June 17, followed by matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Before then, Tuchel will be anxiously monitoring his players' fitness as the domestic season concludes, with Premier League and European competitions still unresolved.
When is the England squad announced?
England, along with other World Cup participants, must submit a preliminary squad of up to 55 players by Monday, May 11. The final 26-player squad must be submitted to FIFA by Saturday, May 30, 18 days before their opening match against Croatia. Managers may also bring an additional nine players to the World Cup for training purposes until the first game. Clubs are required to release players to their national teams by Monday, May 25, except for those involved in the Europa Conference League final on May 27 and the Champions League final on May 30. This could complicate matters for Tuchel if English players from Arsenal, Bayern Munich, or Crystal Palace reach those finals. Tuchel will fine-tune preparations with friendlies against New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10.
England's World Cup fixtures
- England vs Croatia: June 17, 9pm BST, Dallas
- England vs Ghana: June 23, 9pm BST, Boston
- Panama vs England: June 27, 10pm BST, New York-New Jersey
Who could be in the England squad?
While predicting the squad is difficult, several players are almost certain to be included: Jordan Pickford, Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. Others likely to secure spots include Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Anthony Gordon. Marcus Rashford, after a loan spell at Barcelona, appears to have done enough to earn a place at a fifth major tournament, having missed Euro 2024. His Manchester United teammate Kobbie Mainoo, impressive since Ruben Amorim's dismissal, seems to have convinced Tuchel to include him as cover for Rice and Anderson. Cole Palmer's inclusion, though not seriously doubted, has sparked debate after an underwhelming season at Chelsea compared to his high standards. Phil Foden, once a guaranteed pick, now faces an uphill battle after falling out of favor at Manchester City, with Tuchel having ample forward options. The battle to be Harry Kane's understudy is unpredictable, with Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all vying for the role.
