England’s 2026 World Cup squad is now confirmed, with Thomas Tuchel naming his final 26-man group for this summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The announcement ends weeks of debate around Tuchel’s biggest selection calls and confirms a squad built around established leaders, in-form Premier League names and several bold choices. England are heading into the tournament looking for only the second men’s World Cup title in their history, and their first since 1966.
Harry Kane will lead the attack, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice headline the midfield, while Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon give Tuchel pace and width in forward areas. The full squad was confirmed after the Football Association’s scheduled announcement, with details available through the official England football website.
England’s confirmed 26-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford of Everton, Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace and James Trafford of Manchester City have been selected as England’s three goalkeepers.
Defenders: Reece James of Chelsea, Tino Livramento of Newcastle, Marc Guehi of Manchester City, Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa, John Stones of Manchester City, Jarell Quansah of Bayer Leverkusen, Nico O’Reilly of Manchester City, Dan Burn of Newcastle and Djed Spence of Tottenham Hotspur make up the defensive group.
Midfielders: Declan Rice of Arsenal, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Jordan Henderson of Brentford, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United and Eberechi Eze of Arsenal have been named in midfield.
Forwards: Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, Noni Madueke of Arsenal, Marcus Rashford of Barcelona on loan from Manchester United, and Anthony Gordon of Newcastle complete the attacking options.
The squad confirms several notable inclusions. Ivan Toney’s return is one of the headline stories, with the striker selected after a prolific spell in Saudi Arabia. His presence gives England another centre-forward option behind Kane and a player with proven composure in high-pressure moments.
Kobbie Mainoo’s inclusion also stands out. The Manchester United midfielder gives Tuchel another technically secure option in central areas, while Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze add creativity and carrying power between midfield and attack.
In defence, Djed Spence’s place is another major talking point. His ability to play across both full-back roles gives Tuchel valuable flexibility in a tournament squad where cover is vital. Reece James, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn and John Stones add further variety across the back line.
Major names miss out as Tuchel makes bold calls
The confirmed squad also means several high-profile England players have missed out. Harry Maguire had already confirmed he was not included, ending his long run as a major figure in England tournament squads.
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were also expected to miss out, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission had become one of the biggest stories around the announcement. Luke Shaw and Levi Colwill were among the other notable names not included.
Tuchel’s selection points to a clear shift in England’s tournament planning. Rather than relying only on past international status, the manager has leaned into balance, fitness, tactical flexibility and the specific roles he wants filled across a long World Cup campaign.
England have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The tournament begins on June 11 and runs until the final on July 19, with England expected to begin preparations with a training camp in Florida before the group stage.
Two pre-tournament friendlies are also scheduled, giving Tuchel an early chance to test his combinations before the competition begins. With Kane, Bellingham, Rice and Saka providing the core, and players such as Toney, Mainoo, Rogers and Spence adding fresh intrigue, England’s final squad has given supporters plenty to debate before the first ball is kicked.
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