England World Cup 2026 squad: Full list, predicted lineup, depth chart, latest news

Never in history has a team waited a staggering 60 years to win their second World Cup trophy after conquering the globe for the first time - a 20-year wait between titles one and two is the current longest gap - but England could enter the FIFA annals in North America this summer.

Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions were the first UEFA nation to seal their obligatory spot at the next global gathering, one in which they must navigate a not-so-easy group with Croatia, Ghana and Panama just to progress to the knockout rounds.

While many Premier League fates are yet to be decided, a plethora of World Cup hopefuls are made their cases to earn a coveted seat on the plane, and those professionals have now been put out of their misery.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the potential England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

England World Cup 2026 full squad list

England announced a 26-man World Cup squad on May 22, and it is fair to say that there were some rather unpopular picks in Tuchel's selection.

England World Cup 2026 squad numbers

England World Cup 2026 predicted XI

Barring any late injury blows in the closing weeks of the season, there are a handful of shoo-ins for the best England World Cup XI.

Jordan Pickford's status as number one is under no threat - despite Dean Henderson's best efforts - Arsenal boys Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are guarantees, while Harry Kane will be the first name on the teamsheet.

Manchester City duo Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly have likely done enough to make Tuchel's starting lineup too, and the manager's former Chelsea colleague Reece James is the standout selection at right-back.

With no Harry Maguire in the ranks, John Stones is the leading contender to partner Guehi, while Kobbie Mainoo and Elliot Anderson are in a fascinating head-to-head to partner Rice centrally.

The number 10 debate is potentially the most intriguing one, though, as all of Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Jude Bellingham are viable picks alongside Saka and Kane, and the same goes for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon on the left flank.

England World Cup 2026 predicted XI: Pickford; James, Guehi, Stones, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane

England World Cup 2026 squad latest news

Tuchel's picks for the upcoming Mundial were unveiled on the Friday before the end of the Premier League season, and met with a mixture of anger and apathy.

The omissions of Maguire, Luke Shaw, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White to name but a few did not sit well with supporters, who will also not witness Trent Alexander-Arnold pinging delightful diagonals during the World Cup.

Tuchel explained his reasoning during his post-announcement press conference, but his justifications did not exactly appease fans, fans who have no option but to get behind the team he has nominated.

Before taking on Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group stage, England faced New Zealand and Costa Rica in a pair of friendlies, recording 1-0 and 3-0 wins respectively.