England coach Thomas Tuchel has named strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins in his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Toney has been rewarded for his excellent form with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli this season, helping them lift the AFC Champions League Elite trophy, while Watkins has impressed with Aston Villa, who recently claimed UEFA Europa League glory to secure another season of Champions League football.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is included after shining under interim Old Trafford boss Michael Carrick in the latter stages of the season, but there is no place for his experienced Red Devils teammate Harry Maguire in defence.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace |
| Jordan Pickford | Everton |
| James Trafford | Newcastle United |
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Dan Burn | Newcastle United |
| Marc Guéhi | Crystal Palace |
| Reece James | Chelsea |
| Ezri Konsa | Aston Villa |
| Tino Livramento | Newcastle United |
| Nico O’Reilly | Manchester City |
| Jarell Quansah | Liverpool |
| Djed Spence | Tottenham Hotspur |
| John Stones | Manchester City |
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Elliott Anderson | Nottingham Forest |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| Eberechi Eze | Crystal Palace |
| Jordan Henderson | Ajax |
| Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa |
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Anthony Gordon | Newcastle United |
| Harry Kane (C) | Bayern Munich |
| Noni Madueke | Chelsea |
| Marcus Rashford | Manchester United |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli |
| Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa |
Cole Palmer, who inspired Chelsea to FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ glory and scored in England’s UEFA EURO 2024 final defeat to Spain, has not made the cut after an injury-hit season disrupted his form. Manchester City attacking midfielder Phil Foden is another omission from Tuchel’s final selection, along with Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Tuchel has largely stuck with the group of players who guided England through qualifying with a perfect 100% record, with captain Harry Kane spearheading the Three Lions’ bid for a first World Cup triumph since 1966. (Source: fifa.com)
England World Cup 2026 Squad
Speaking on the England app, Tuchel said: “It has been a tough process to decide on the nominations, but I have full belief in this group of players. They all deserve their place. The squad and everyone involved with the team will give all we can to make the country proud. We know they are behind us, and we hope for a very special summer.”
“Everything I know about international football and everything I hear about international football is that it’s about chemistry. It’s so obvious in this moment that teams win titles.
“A lot of factors play into that nomination process. I love the difficult decisions, and I love the tough decisions they bring a certain edge. That’s what you need to go all the way. It’s hard to please everyone. In the end, we have to pick the squad that we as a staff are convinced of and truly believe in.
“You feel the love of your coach, and you feel the trust. In the end, it comes down to this who do we really trust? The connection has to be there. Somehow, it’s a bit of a tool to challenge myself: what would I think from the outside? Mostly, it’s about the energy, connection, and trust between me and the players.”
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