England, like they have done for the better part of a decade now, will enter the upcoming international competition as one of the favourites. The Three Lions are among the odds-on favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The English were among the first teams to announce their 26-man squad for the World Cup. The team managed by former UEFA Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel has quite a controversial squad, with several massive omissions.
Following is the 26-man squad that Tuchel picked for the World Cup –
- Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
- Defenders: Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Reece James, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
- Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kobe Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers
- Strikers: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney
After a successful decade under the management of Gareth Southgate, England announced German coach Thomas Tuchel as their manager at the start of 2026. Under the new leadership, England have played two friendlies, where they have not looked in top form.
The first one was a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, followed by a 1-0 defeat against the strong Japanese side.
Tuchel, known for his intensity as a manager, took some massive calls in announcing his squad for the World Cup. The likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite being some of the biggest names in the sport, did not make the cut due to their underwhelming 2026-26 club season.
And while the likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw might not be the flashiest names, they had excellent seasons for Manchester United and have always been solid performers in an England jersey.
But with the squad they have, what will be the likely starting XI for the first FIFA World Cup 2026 game of the Three Lions?
First, we must discuss what formation the team will take to the field. A four-man backline is their bread and butter. The question is, what formation will the players take in front of the defenders? While the team has traditionally played with a 4-3-3 formation, Thomas Tuchel has experimented with a 4-2-3-1 and is expected to field it, with two defensive midfielders and three attacking midfielders behind one striker.
England World Cup Predicted Starting XI
Let’s start with the goalkeeper. While Dean Henderson and James Trafford are promising talents with a lot of upside, there is clearly only one choice here, and that is Jordan Pickford, who, when wearing the England jersey, turns into one of the best goalies in the world.
Similarly, the striker role is all but taken as well. The pair of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney provides a serious off-the-bench threat; it will be Harry Kane, arguably the best striker in the world and team captain, who will start all games for England.
Tuchel has two left-backs at his disposal for this tournament. While Djed Spence was a shining light in an otherwise dark season with Tottenham, Nico O’Reilly had a breakout season with Manchester City and was one of the best players in the Premier League in 2025-26. And so, the 21-year-old will have the spot locked down.
Meanwhile, the experienced Reece James is expected to start at left-back ahead of Newcastle’s Tino Livramento.
Next, the two centre-backs. One of the two available slots is most definitely secured for Marc Guehi. The 25-year-old, over the past couple of seasons, has emerged as one of the defenders in world football.
The second CB spot has two real contenders. One is John Stones. The Man City veteran, despite not being in top form for a few seasons now, has always been a fine performer for the national team. On the other hand, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa had an excellent 2025-26 season and is the favourite to be a starter for England in the World Cup. So, we pick the in-form player, which is Konsa.
The two holding midfielders are among the most obvious starters for England at the moment. Declan Rice led Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years. He was the best player for the Gunners in a successful season for the London-based club. The second one is Kobbie Mainoo, who, on form, might be the best English midfielder at the moment.
Check Out: England World Cup Expected Starting XI
The second midfield line, which will involve a left-winger, a right-winger, and a No. 10 attacking midfielder. The latter of these, someone who will not only provide balls for the striker but will also be a goal-scoring threat.
While the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers are decent options, the position truly belongs to Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid star, despite an underwhelming 2025-26 season, is still one of the faces of this team.
On the right wing, Arsenal’s Noni Madueke is a solid back-up option. But he will have to surrender the starting spot to his club-mate Bukayo Saka, one of the most talented wingers in the world.
The toughest competition to secure a spot in the starting XI will be at the left wing. The two choices here are Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon. The former spent the last season on loan at Barcelona. While coming in as a substitute in most games, Rashford impressed with 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon, who transferred to Barca in a big-money move this summer, impressed at Newcastle United, especially in the Champions League, where he scored 10 goals in 12 games.
But, despite Gordon being the more in-demand and higher-profile player at the moment, the starting position, at least in the first game of the World Cup, is likely to go to veteran Rashford, who has previously worn the England jersey in international competitions.
Here is the England World Cup predicted starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation –
Jordan Pickford (GK), Reece James, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane (C)
England is in Group L of the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. They will take on Croatia in their opening league game on June 18 (1:30 am IST). The next game will be against Ghana on June 24 (1:30 am IST), while their final league game will see the Three Lions take on Panama on June 28 (2:30 am IST).
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