Predicting England's squad for the 2026 World Cup

Cameron Smith

• 7 Nov 2025 05:42 CST
• 6 min read

Analysis

England boss Thomas Tuchel has officially announced his squad selection for the upcoming November international break ahead of fixtures versus Serbia and Albania.

The 52-year-old favoured a consistent approach with his squad for the October break, but he has opted to make several changes this time around as the 2026 World Cup edges ever closer.

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Jude Bellingham

AM (C), M (CL)

Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham

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Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have both been recalled following their absences so far this season, while Adam Wharton, Nico O’Reilly, Nick Pope and Jarell Quansah have also been selected.

Bournemouth star Adam Scott has earned his first ever senior call-up after a fantastic start to the 2025-26 campaign, although Ollie Watkins, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been dropped.

It still remains to be seen if the World Cup will feature 23 or 26 man squads, although the latter was favoured for the Qatar tournament in 2022 and next summer’s edition could well follow suit.

Below, we predict who will be included in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford is one of the first names on the teamsheet and he will be England’s starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup barring injury.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace star Dean Henderson firmly appears to be Tuchel’s favoured back-up option amid his impressive form under Oliver Glasner.

The only real question therefore lies around the third goalkeeper. James Trafford looked in pole position for that slot, however he has been demoted by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola since the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nick Pope replaced him in the November squad.

The Newcastle United shot-stopper is therefore likely to retain his place if he continues to play regularly at club level.

Goalkeeper Prediction: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, Nick Pope.

Defenders

Myles Lewis-Skelly has fallen from a guaranteed starter to out of the squad entirely amid his lack of game time at Arsenal.

The teenager looked a safe bet for the left-back slot at the World Cup a few months ago, but he now appears to be Mikel Arteta’s third-choice in that position - behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie - and his England hopes have suffered as a result.

Nico O’Reilly, on the other hand, has established himself as a regular at Man City and he is highly likely to be selected for the World Cup if he continues to pick up meaningful first-team minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

STATS

Nico O'Reilly

D (L), M (C)

Man City

Nico O'Reilly

D (L), M (C)

Man City

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 13

  Games

• 1

  Goals

• 2

  Assists

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Chelsea’s Reece James remains a slight injury risk given his recent record, but Enzo Maresca has carefully managed his workload over the past year and he will be England’s starting right-back at the World Cup if he’s fully fit.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence looks as though he will provide cover on both flanks, while Valentino Livramento of Newcastle is also a strong contender for a place in the squad when he returns from a knee injury.

Lewis Hall, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker all seem like outside shouts for selection and are unlikely to work their way into Tuchel’s thinking given how close the World Cup is.

At centre-back, Tuchel has identified his favoured four options: John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Dan Burn. Injury issues are likely to be the only thing that could prevent those four players from being selected.

Jarell Quansah has once again been named in the squad for the November internationals, however he is still yet to make his senior debut.

Defender Prediction: Reece James, Valentino Livramento, Djed Spence, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn.

Midfielders

Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and Jordan Henderson will be at the World Cup if they are fully fit, and Tuchel’s latest selection suggests that Adam Wharton and Adam Scott could be vying for the final place in the squad.

Of course, they could both be on the plane, however Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer is yet to return to full fitness and he is expected to be selected for the tournament if his groin injury is no longer an issue.

Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers were the final two ‘midfielders’ named in the November squad, and they are both highly likely to be in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next summer. Who starts out of Palmer, Bellingham and Rogers is another question.

Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze both being named as ‘forwards’ in the November selection graphic suggests they may be viewed as options in a more advanced role.

Midfielder Prediction: Elliot Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers.

Forwards

The forwards named in Tuchel’s final squad for the World Cup could be heavily influenced by whether he is allowed to select 23 or 26 players. Several tough calls will need to be made if it’s the former, with the aforementioned Foden and Eze potentially set to be at risk. However, they are both likely to be chosen if Tuchel is allowed to take 26 players with him.

As for the out-and-out wingers, Tuchel is expected to select two options for either flank. On the left, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon have both performed well and they are highly likely to be in the squad.

Meanwhile, Tuchel will have a tough choice on the opposite flank. Of course, Bukayo Saka will be selected, if fully fit, but the England boss must then choose between Noni Madueke and Jarrod Bowen as the Arsenal star’s back-up.

STATS

Bukayo Saka 

F, M (R)

Arsenal

Bukayo Saka 

F, M (R)

Arsenal

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 13

  Games

• 5

  Goals

• 0

  Assists

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Tuchel has called up Bowen in three of his four squads as England manager, however Madueke has displayed a higher ceiling in a Three Lions shirt and is likely to win this battle when he returns from injury.

In regards to the centre forward position, Harry Kane is expected to play every available minute at the World Cup, while Ollie Watkins remains the most likely second option. However, his exclusion from the November squad, amid poor form at club level for Aston Villa, has raised questions over whether he will be selected.

Forward Prediction: Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins.

England Squad Prediction for the 2026 World Cup

1. Jordan Pickford

2. Dean Henderson

3. Nick Pope

4. Reece James

5. Valentino Livramento

6. Djed Spence

7. Nico O’Reilly

8. John Stones

9. Ezri Konsa

10. Marc Guehi

11. Dan Burn

12. Elliot Anderson

13. Jordan Henderson

14. Adam Wharton

15. Declan Rice

16. Jude Bellingham

17. Cole Palmer

18. Morgan Rogers

19. Bukayo Saka

20. Noni Madueke

21. Phil Foden

22. Eberechi Eze

23. Marcus Rashford

24. Anthony Gordon

25. Harry Kane

26. Ollie Watkins

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