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England 2026 World Cup squad ladder: Who’s on the plane and who’s in for pain?

England 2026 World Cup rankings: Harry Kane

Predicting an England World Cup squad was once a relatively straightforward business. 

True, there has been the odd curveball. Few would have imagined Steve Bull, a striker with second-tier Wolves, making the Italia 90 squad ahead of Arsenal’s Alan Smith, let alone a 16-year-old Theo Walcott travelling to Germany as part of Sven-Göran Eriksson’s group in 2006. For the most part, though, England managers have gone with a tried and trusted core of top-flight performers drawn from the country’s top clubs.

That, though, was before Thomas Tuchel was appointed on an 18-month contract with a brief to win next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. 

The arrival of the 52-year-old German at St George’s Park has ushered in a new age of pragmatism. Freezing out a world-class player in order to maintain team harmony? Not a problem, when you’re just passing through. Developing young talent with one eye on the future? Why bother, when you know you’ll probably be gone after a year and a half? For Tuchel, all that matters is the here and now (barring a contract extension, which he has acknowledged is a “possibility”).

It has undeniably made for a fascinating dynamic, and the truth is that the here and now is looking pretty good. Rather than trying to shoehorn in the biggest names and biggest egos, Tuchel has placed the emphasis on the collective. In the process, he has ruffled feathers and polished diamonds in roughly equal measure, establishing an England pecking order quite unlike the one most would have anticipated when his reign began in January.

Throughout an unblemished qualifying campaign – eight wins from eight games, 22 goals scored, none conceded – Tuchel insisted no one was guaranteed selection, and was as good as his word. He kept faith with the group that ignited his reign with a 5-0 win against Serbia in Belgrade before securing qualification in Latvia. But after dropping some important players from his October squad, he placed greater emphasis on form the following month, recalling stars like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.

Even so, Tuchel has successfully cultivated a club atmosphere in the England camp and, if he follows that policy through to its logical conclusion, continuing to call up players on merit rather than reputation, the possibility remains that some big names could miss out next summer. But who? 

In the ladder that follows, we look at: the players currently in pole position for a place in Tuchel’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system (and necessarily therefore numbered 1 to 11); who looks likely to make the squad (players 12 to 26); and who could miss out all together (27 down). Subjective by its nature, but hopefully no less interesting for that, the ladder will be updated regularly as next summer’s tournament approaches.

THOMAS TUCHEL’S CURRENT ENGLAND FIRST XI

1) Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

The Three Lions’ captain, talisman and record goal-scorer, Kane is the first name on any England manager’s teamsheet. The 32-year-old has found the net 78 times in 112 games for his country – more than the rest of the current squad put together – and already has 23 goals in 17 games for Bayern Munich this season. Numbers like that might go to the head of a lesser individual. Not Kane, though, who works tirelessly for the greater good and brings vision and creativity to the team. Simply indispensable.

2) Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Pickford has played in all but one of Tuchel’s 10 games in charge of England; his sole absence, against Senegal in June, coincided with the first and only defeat of the German’s managerial reign. November’s 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley marked the Everton man’s 10th consecutive clean sheet for England, further eclipsing a record previously held by Gordon Banks, while only Peter Shilton, with 125 caps to Pickford’s 81, has featured more often between the sticks. The 31-year-old’s focus, composure and concentration have all improved with age, while his useful habit of saving penalties is tailor-made for tournament football. The gloves belong to Pickford.

 

3) Declan Rice (Arsenal)

The key cog in England’s midfield wheel, Rice is a guaranteed starter next summer. Discussion of the 26-year-old’s most effective position feels increasingly redundant, for the simple reason that he can do it all, from reading danger and breaking up opposition attacks to driving forward and scoring goals, as he did against Andorra at Villa Park in September. “I think now I’m a bit more of a box-to-box No 8,” Rice said after England’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales in October. “The manager has adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year, given me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but also get in the box when I can, and it’s the same with Thomas. I think that really suits me.” The presence of midfield partner Elliot Anderson has granted Rice that licence.

4) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

For all the debate over if, how and where England should deploy Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, Saka’s claim to a place on the right side of the attacking trident in Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1 system remains relatively uncontentious. The 24-year-old, who eclipsed Cliff Bastin as Arsenal’s most prolific goalscorer for the Three Lions when he found the net with a lovely curled strike against Wales in October, has 14 goals to show from 47 England appearances. Saka’s work-rate and attacking dynamism are a perfect fit for Tuchel’s brand of football. 

5) Reece James (Chelsea)

Assuming he can steer clear of injury, James is in pole position to occupy the right-back berth next summer. Tuchel, who worked with him at Chelsea, has lavished praise on the 25-year-old’s defensive prowess and ability on the ball, although his withdrawal from October’s squad did little to dampen concerns about his susceptibility to injury. Comfortable anywhere across the back-line, the Chelsea captain’s versatility and leadership offers England obvious benefits, and there was an almost audible sigh of relief when he returned to the England camp the following month. James will be desperate not to miss out on a second consecutive World Cup.

 

6) Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)

Most believe Anderson, who had started five straight games for England until Tuchel decided to shuffle the pack for the final World Cup qualifier in Albania, has cemented his place in Tuchel’s starting line-up next summer. While the humble 23-year-old is probably not among them, he has formed an undeniably effective midfield partnership with Declan Rice, his diligence and discipline in the No 6 role freeing the Arsenal man to contribute higher up the pitch. No midfield player has completed more passes or won possession more often in the Premier League this season, and his lack of ego and willingness to do a job for the team are highly valued by Tuchel. In a position where England are relatively light on standout specialists, Anderson has rapidly established himself as an essential figure since making his international debut against Andorra at Villa Park in September.  

7) John Stones (Manchester City)

Patience has been the watchword for Tuchel where Stones is concerned. A combination of injury and club commitments delayed the Manchester City centre-back’s first international appearance under the German. But in October, when the 31-year-old returned to the England fold for the first time under his stewardship, Tuchel wasted no time in restoring him to the starting lineup, where Stones rekindled the defensive partnership with Marc Guéhi that underpinned England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. Injury remains an ever-present concern for a player whose wretched run of physical setbacks had him contemplating retirement last season. Yet Stones, who also played in the team that sealed qualification in Latvia and went on to start both November games, has bucked that trend for England, and has been available for the past six major tournaments. Tuchel will be hoping that run continues.

8) Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)

As Chelsea manager, Tuchel sold Guéhi to Crystal Palace; as England manager, the German has found the 25-year-old a vital figure. In a team set up to dominate, Guéhi is comfortable in possession and rarely gives the ball away. He made 84% of his 1,741 passes in the Premier League last season, and combines speed and strength with a tactical versatility that enables him to play on either side of a central defensive pairing in a back four, or in a back three, as he does for Palace. Guéhi’s attitude has particularly impressed Tuchel, who made much of the defender’s professionalism in the aftermath of his failed move to Liverpool this summer. A shoo-in for England’s starting XI? Almost certainly, although Ezri Konsa may have other ideas.

9) Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Dubbed the new Paul Gascoigne after England’s 5-0 win in Serbia, Rogers could have been forgiven for retreating into his shell. Instead, the attacking midfielder underlined his growing importance by scoring his first international goal, against Wales. Rogers has now been involved in all 10 of Tuchel’s England games, starting six of them, and together with Anderson has been the prime beneficiary of the German’s emphasis on the collective over the individual. Bellingham, who was restored to the starting lineup for England’s final World Cup qualifier against Albania, may well be England’s finest creative force, but Tuchel has said he is more interested in building a team than “collecting the most talented players”. By that logic, Rogers leads the race for the No 10 spot. The question is, will Tuchel really field him ahead of his Real Madrid rival come crunch-time? 

10) Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

If Tuchel had any lingering doubts about his decision to include O’Reilly in the latest England gathering at the expense of Myles Lewis-Skelly, the Manchester City man’s barnstorming display against Liverpool two days after the squad announcement would have quelled them. The 20-year-old not only condemned Mohamed Salah to a wretched afternoon at Eastlands, almost single-handedly containing the threat of a player who had either scored or assisted against City in each of the teams’ previous nine meetings, but also showed relentless energy and attacking menace going the other way. O’Reilly has shown he can grasp the nettle at club level, establishing himself as a regular starter after Rayan Aït-Nouri, a £31m summer signing from Wolves, was sidelined by an ankle injury. If his progress for City is to be mirrored with England, he will need to maintain his current momentum under Tuchel, who started him in the November games against Serbia and Albania and clearly liked what he saw, praising O’Reilly’s intelligence and adaptability. 

11) Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

Having started five of the previous six matches before injury forced him to withdraw from the November squad, Gordon appears to be winning the battle to nail down a place on England’s left wing.  The 24-year-old offers pace and width and, while Marcus Rashford started the 2-0 win over Serbia in his absence, and Jack Grealish has perhaps merited greater consideration based on his form for Everton this season, Gordon remains in pole position. The winger’s opener against Latvia in October undoubtedly strengthened the case for his inclusion, although Rashford’s assist for Kane’s second goal in Tirana was an eloquent riposte.

IN THE SQUAD

12) Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

Tuchel’s reservations about Bellingham’s attitude are as well documented as his admiration for the ability of the 22-year-old playmaker, whom he has described as “one of the best players in the world”. Overlooked for the October squad as Tuchel opted against making changes from the previous month, Bellingham was readmitted to the fold for the November games against Serbia and Albania, starting the latter. As the midfielder’s frustrated reaction to being replaced late on in Tirana demonstrated, however, readmission is not the same as rehabilitation. Much will now depend on how deep various scars run. The wounds include Tuchel’s observation that his mother found the attacker’s behaviour “repulsive”; the implied criticism that England should be a team, not a star vehicle; and Bellingham’s response to his October omission. Tuchel has made conciliatory noises, praising the midfielder’s “edge” and calling on him to channel it positively. He has also made it clear, however, that Bellingham – who, having recovered from summer shoulder surgery, has been in excellent form for Madrid – must conform with the new “club England” environment. It is up to the player to harness his undoubted ability for the collective good.   

Jude Bellingham

13) Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)

Konsa has featured in all five of Tuchel’s England squads and is the man most likely to play alongside Guéhi at centre-back next summer if Stones fails to make it. Strong, quick and comfortable on the ball, Konsa can also play at right-back, as he did most recently against Wales in October. 

14) Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

Henderson has been a mainstay of Oliver Glasner’s impressive Crystal Palace side. The 28-year-old produced a defining performance in May’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, saving a penalty to help Palace win the first major trophy in their history, and kept out two more in the climactic Community Shield shootout against Liverpool in August. His first appearance under Tuchel did not end happily, with Henderson shipping three goals as England lost to Senegal at the City Ground. But if England are to go deep next summer, a solid alternative to Pickford is essential. Given the nod against Albania in England’s final World Cup qualifier, Henderson offered a reminder of his ability to be precisely that, maintaining his concentration throughout and making decisive interventions to deny Arbër Hoxha and Qazim Laci. A man for the big occasion, the former Manchester United trainee is an able understudy.

15) Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)

Consistency is key for the 27-year-old. Tuchel has all but raved about Rashford’s ability, describing his potential as limitless. At the same time, the German has made plain his view that the attacker’s numbers – 18 goals in 68 caps – fall short of his ability. “He can be one of the best in the world,” Tuchel said ahead of England’s qualification-clinching victory over Latvia in October. “He is explosive, he is fast, he is strong in the air, so where are the limits?” The German insists Rashford’s value to England will be measured in the hard currency of goals and assists, but only eight players have accrued more minutes on his watch. Tuchel has been consistent in selecting the forward; it is up to Rashford to repay that faith with more end product. It is nonetheless difficult to imagine a player who could deputise for Kane as a central striker being overlooked next summer. 

16) Jordan Henderson (Brentford)

As Tuchel has made clear, the former Liverpool captain is Anderson’s understudy as things stand. Much has been made of his friendship with Bellingham but, given the uncertainty surrounding the Real Madrid playmaker’s place in Tuchel’s plans, the principal focus should be on what Henderson brings to the team – which, even at the age of 35, is plenty. As his performances for Brentford this season have demonstrated, Henderson’s eye for a pass, work rate and competitive appetite remain undimmed. A team player devoid of ego, his ability and experience are highly prized by Tuchel, and rightly so.

17) Tino Livramento (Newcastle)

The right-footed Livramento has twice been ushered into service at left-back by Tuchel. His ability to do a job in what is a problem position for England counts strongly in his favour, although injuries remain a concern. Even so, the 22-year-old’s ability to provide cover for James on the right should be enough to secure a place in next summer’s squad.

18) Dan Burn (Newcastle)

At 33, Burn’s first international call-up in March came out of left-field. Still, the 6ft 7in centre-back is an imposing and dependable figure who has done yeoman’s service for Newcastle. Burn will never be the quickest, and his performances against Andorra and Senegal this summer exposed the limitations of his distribution, as did a misplaced pass that almost allowed Albania to open the scoring in his November appearance in Tirana. Tuchel will have noted with concern that opposition teams are often content to allow Burn the ball, but the defender’s ability to play anywhere across the back four counts strongly in his favour.

19) Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

Increasingly influential at Arsenal, Eze is playing his way into contention for a ticket to the finals. Tuchel is a confirmed admirer, and has implied he will find a place for the 27-year-old. Eze’s ability to play on either side of England’s attacking trident, or even as a No 10, could prove a trump card. A modest performance against Albania in England’s final qualifier will not have harmed his chances, although it certainly demonstrated that wide left is not his best position.      

20) Nick Pope (Newcastle)

With James Trafford warming the Manchester City bench following the summer arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Pope was one of four players promoted to the November squad on the basis of club form. That might have seemed anomalous, given some of the Newcastle goalkeeper’s performances in the weeks before that gathering, and it was in any case rendered academic by Pope’s withdrawal from the squad after he suffered concussion in a Premier League game against Brentford. Despite that ill-timed stroke of misfortune, however, Pope’s regular game time with Newcastle has clearly moved him ahead of Manchester City stopper James Trafford in Tuchel’s thinking.

21) Phil Foden (Manchester City)

To have afforded Foden greater prominence on this ladder would have been to make a judgement based more on ability and potential than anything the Manchester City midfielder has done in an England shirt. In 45 games for his country before his call-up to the November squad, Foden had scored four goals and provided nine assists; in his previous 45 games for City, those numbers were respectively 19 and nine. However, the bright cameos against Serbia and Albania that followed, including an assist for Eberechi Eze in the former, will not have gone unnoticed by Tuchel. A combination of injury and omission had previously limited the City midfielder to just two appearances under the German, a subdued performance against Albania and a late cameo against Latvia in which he also set up Eze. If Tuchel is able to accommodate the midfielder in his preferred central position, England can only benefit. The signs are promising.

22) Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

Having missed out on the Qatar World Cup, the 28-year-old will be determined to ensure history does not repeat itself. His prospects look encouraging. Named in Tuchel’s first squad in March, Bowen started on the right in a 3-0 win over Latvia at Wembley and, while he was hooked after an hour after struggling to make an impression, he remains a valued squad member. His assist in October’s 5-0 win in Latvia showed why. Handed a start against Albania in England’s final qualifier in Tirana, Bowen forced a good save from Thomas Strakosha. 

23) Noni Madueke (Arsenal)

If the battle for a starting place on the left side of attack is likely to be played out between Gordon and Rashford, Madueke could be the player vying with Saka for a spot on the right. While the 23-year-old was omitted from the October and November squads due to a knee injury, Tuchel hinted that he would have received the nod for the former ahead of Arsenal team-mate Saka had he been fit. Madueke has played a similar number of minutes to Rashford under the German, but is likely to face fierce competition from Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer. The availability of those other options accounts for his position on the ladder, as does his continued injury absence.

24) Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)

For a player named in Tuchel’s first squad in March, when he was struggling to get a start for Liverpool, a £30m summer move to Bayer Leverkusen has brought the most precious of commodities: playing time. Quansah has been a near ever-present for Leverkusen this season and would be a solid alternative for England should injuries force a defensive reshuffle, particularly since he can also play at full-back, as he did most recently against Albania in November.

25) Djed Spence (Tottenham)

Like Livramento, Spence is a right-back who can also operate on the left flank, as he did in the Wales friendly. The 25-year-old’s place will depend largely on whether Tuchel includes Trent Alexander-Arnold or Kyle Walker in the squad, but his ability to play on either side of the back four counts strongly in his favour. Spence nonetheless did himself no favours when he ignored his club manager Thomas Frank’s instructions to acknowledge supporters after Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea in early November. “I didn’t like it,” said Tuchel before England’s final qualifiers. “The players know they are not only national players when they are 10 days in camp. They are always national players, and the standard of behaviour is always important.” Spence promptly made peace with Frank – but has he cost himself a World Cup place? Time will tell.

26) Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

For a country not blessed with an abundance of options at centre-forward, Watkins is the obvious choice as back-up for Kane. The Aston Villa man stood in for the injured England captain in October’s Wales friendly and made his mark by claiming a sixth goal in 20 international appearances, before injury forced his withdrawal. Even so, Watkins missed the November squad with injury and has struggled at club level this season. He will also face stern competition from Danny Welbeck, assuming the Brighton forward can maintain his bright start to the season, and Phil Foden, if he can prosper in a reimagined role under Tuchel.

ON THE FRINGES

27) Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

It seems unthinkable Palmer could miss out and, as with Eze, the Chelsea man’s versatility may yet secure him a place in the squad. The 23-year-old forward, arguably the most compelling alternative to Rogers and Bellingham at No 10, has shown he can be effective in any of the forward positions. He is also more than capable of making the case for his inclusion unanswerable in the months ahead. First, though, he will need to overcome the groin injury that has curtailed his start to the season, and which Tuchel fears could become chronic if not properly addressed. A Chelsea return is nearing; in terms of his England ambitions, it cannot come soon enough.

28) Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)

If Lewis-Skelly wants to start for England, the challenge facing the 19-year-old is clear: displace Italy international Riccardo Calafiori as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back. There is no shortage of admiration for the teenager on Tuchel’s part. All six of Lewis-Skelly’s caps to date have come under the German, who has praised his quality, training and attitude. The defender scored against Albania on his international debut in March, and was hailed afterwards as “fearless” by Arsenal team-mate Declan Rice. The risk, underscored by his omission from Tuchel’s November squad, is that none of that will matter if he doesn’t get more playing time at the Emirates. Previously the only left-footed full-back to have played under Tuchel – a key consideration if England are to field a properly balanced side next summer – he now faces stiff competition from Nico O’Reilly. The ability of Livramento and Spence to offer cover in his position does little to help Lewis-Skelly’s prospects.

29) Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Often likened to Paul Scholes and reportedly the subject of strong interest from Manchester United, the Crystal Palace man could count himself deeply unfortunate to miss out on a World Cup place. An ill-timed injury forced him to withdraw from the September internationals, but Tuchel has acknowledged his admiration for Wharton and his recall for the November games offered the 21-year-old hope that he may yet be able to work his way into World Cup contention. Handed his full debut against Albania, he delivered a composed if not electrifying performance.

30) Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)

This summer’s 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal marked an inauspicious start to the Chelsea centre-back’s international career. Tuchel suggested Chalobah was unlucky not to make the September squad, but Quansah was called up ahead of him following Wharton’s withdrawal the following month, and he made the cut in November only after injury withdrawals. The 26-year-old remained an unused substitute, and will need to make the most of any opportunity that comes his way when the squad reconvenes for the March friendlies. Would probably be the chief beneficiary should Tuchel not take Dan Burn. 

31) Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

Jones is nothing if not adaptable. The 24-year-old can operate as a No 6, a No 8, a right-back or in an advanced attacking midfield role, making him an undeniably useful asset. But he has been omitted from the past two squads, with Liverpool’s ongoing struggles no doubt doing little to further his cause. As things stand, Jones has been overtaken by Wharton and Scott in the race to make the squad.

 

32) Alex Scott (Bournemouth)

Once hailed as “unbelievable” by Pep Guardiola, who knows something about what it takes to prosper as a Premier League midfielder, Scott earned his first England call-up in November but did not make it off the bench. Nonetheless, he has made strong progress since starring alongside Elliot Anderson for England’s under-21 side this summer as they retained their European Championship crown, and has become an increasingly influential figure in Andoni Iraola’s side, as comfortable on the ball as he is diligent off it. It would be asking a lot of the 22-year-old to secure a place in the squad at this relatively late stage but, as an understudy to Declan Rice, England could do an awful lot worse.

33) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid)

Tuchel has made no secret of his misgivings about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive qualities. Having given him a 26-minute run out against Andorra this summer, he has not selected the former Liverpool man since. A difficult start at Real Madrid compounded by a hamstring injury did not help, and time is running out for the 27-year-old to allay the manager’s concerns, even allowing for the amount of football to be played between now and the World Cup. That said, Alexander-Arnold remains a unique talent whose passing range can create openings from nothing. Can England afford to ignore him?  

34) Jack Grealish (Everton)

But for Tuchel’s desire to keep faith with the previous month’s squad, Grealish would surely have been in contention to face Wales and Latvia in October. The 30-year-old has been revitalised by his loan move to Everton, but a goal and four assists in 12 games has not been enough to put him in the frame ahead of Gordon and Rashford. Could that change if Grealish is able to answer David Moyes’s call for a greater goal return and sustain his form throughout the season?

35) Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan)

Recalled to the England squad in September, the 29-year-old has evidently made an impression on Tuchel, who handed him his first cap since November 2018 against Wales last month. But as the German made plain with his latest squad, the former Chelsea midfielder has been overtaken by Alex Scott in the pecking order. Given the competition he faces, it would take an extraordinary club season or a catastrophic series of injuries for Loftus-Cheek to travel to North America next year. 

36) James Trafford (Manchester City)

Trafford retained his place in the England squad to face Wales and Latvia in October. However, his summer return to Manchester City from Burnley, where he kept a record-equalling 30 clean sheets in last season’s Championship promotion run, has backfired following the club’s acquisition of Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma. Given Tuchel’s preference for players performing consistently at club level, warming the bench at the Etihad was never likely to help Trafford’s England prospects, and so it proved when he was initially omitted from the November squad. Nick Pope’s withdrawal handed him a reprieve, but it seems unlikely to last unless a route back into the City first team opens up.

37) Levi Colwill (Chelsea)

After suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season, the prospects of the Chelsea defender adding to his five caps before next summer are slim. At the age of 22, however, time is on Colwill’s side; there will be other World Cups.

38) Kyle Walker (Burnley)

Having won the last of his 96 caps against Albania in March, Walker has not featured since. Tuchel’s admission that he did not call the 35-year-old to explain his omission from the October squad appears to have signalled the end of an era. Harsh? Yes. Fair? Probably.

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