With just over three weeks until the World Cup kicks off on June 11, England manager Thomas Tuchel faces the challenging task of selecting a 26-man squad from a deep pool of talent. The Three Lions aim to end their 60-year wait for a men's World Cup title, having last triumphed in 1966.
When Is the England Squad Announced?
England submitted a preliminary squad of up to 55 players to FIFA on May 11. Although the list was not made public, reports suggest surprise inclusions such as Danny Welbeck, Luke Shaw, and Jarrad Branthwaite. The final squad will be announced on Friday, May 22. Clubs must release players by May 25, except those involved in the Europa Conference League final (May 27) and Champions League final (May 30), which could delay arrivals for Arsenal and Crystal Palace players.
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
Tuchel will fine-tune preparations with friendlies against New Zealand (June 6) and Costa Rica (June 10).
Who Could Be in the Final Squad?
Several players are virtually guaranteed spots: Jordan Pickford, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Anthony Gordon are also strong contenders. Morgan Gibbs-White could be a surprise inclusion after an impressive season at Nottingham Forest.
Marcus Rashford, on loan at Barcelona, appears to have done enough to earn a place after missing Euro 2024. Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, a standout performer since Ruben Amorim's sacking, is likely to provide cover for Rice and Anderson. Cole Palmer's inclusion is not in serious doubt despite an underwhelming Chelsea season, but Phil Foden faces an uphill battle after falling out of favour at Manchester City.
The battle to be Harry Kane's understudy remains unpredictable, with Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Danny Welbeck all in contention.
