The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA is creeping up on us, and with England already booking their spot in North America, the talk now is who will be on that plane.
Thomas Tuchel will need to select a 26-player squad as he looks to end the Three Lions’ 60-year wait for a World Cup triumph.
Some are guaranteed to be in the squad, but there are others who still need to impress. Here’s a look at who is best placed to be included.
1
Harry Kane
Forward
Bayern Munich
2
Declan Rice
Midfielder
Arsenal
3
Jordan Pickford
Goalkeeper
Everton
4
Marc Guehi
Defender
Crystal Palace
5
Bukayo Saka
Forward
Arsenal
6
Jude Bellingham
Midfielder
Real Madrid
7
Elliot Anderson
Midfielder
Nottingham Forest
8
Reece James
Defender
Chelsea
9
Anthony Gordon
Forward
Newcastle
10
Phil Foden
Midfielder
Man City
11
Djed Spence
Defender
Tottenham
12
John Stones
Defender
Man City
13
Morgan Rogers
Midfielder
Aston Villa
20
Cole Palmer
Midfielder
Chelsea
15
Adam Wharton
Midfielder
Crystal Palace
16
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Defender
Real Madrid
17
Dean Henderson
Goalkeeper
Crystal Palace
18
Marcus Rashford
Forward
Barcelona
19
Ezri Konsa
Defender
Aston Villa
20
Dan Burn
Defender
Newcastle
21
Eberechi Eze
Midfielder
Arsenal
22
Jordan Henderson
Midfielder
Brentford
23
Jarrod Bowen
Forward
West Ham
24
Morgan Gibbs-White
Midfielder
Nottingham Forest
25
Nico O’Reilly
Defender
Man City
26
Conor Gallagher
Midfielder
Atletico Madrid
1 Goalkeepers
1
Jordan Pickford
Everton
2
Dean Henderson
Crystal Palace
3
James Trafford
Man City
4
Nick Pope
Newcastle
5
Aaron Ramsdale
Newcastle
Jordan Pickford has been England’s number one since 2018 and the Everton star looks set to remain first choice heading into 2026, providing he stays fit.
With two more spots open for ‘keepers, there looks set to be a battle between Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale.
Of the four, Henderson and Pope are getting regular minutes for Crystal Palace and Newcastle, whereas Trafford and Ramsdale are finding minutes hard to come by. Tuchel has been picking Trafford, though, so Pope could miss out.
2 Full-backs
1
Reece James
Chelsea
2
Djed Spence
Tottenham
3
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Real Madrid
4
Nico O’Reilly
Man City
5
Tino Livramento
Newcastle
6
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Arsenal
7
Kieran Trippier
Newcastle
Top of the full-back charts are Chelsea’s Reece James and Tottenham’s Djed Spence, who have been regulars in Tuchel’s squads recently, with the former working under the England boss at Stamford Bridge.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out by Tuchel earlier this year following his move to Real Madrid, but his technical ability will surely see him selected even if it isn’t as a starter.
Elsewhere, Tuchel has warned Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly he needs more minutes at club level to be considered for selection. Nico O’Reilly is in a good position after starring under Pep Guardiola at Man City, whereas Tino Livramento is set to return to regular action with Newcastle soon.
3 Centre-backs
1
Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace
2
John Stones
Man City
3
Dan Burn
Newcastle
4
Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa
5
Jarell Quansah
Bayer Leverkusen
6
Trevoh Chalobah
Chelsea
7
Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton
8
Levi Colwill
Chelsea
9
Harry Maguire
Man Utd
With Tuchel potentially going with a back four, Marc Guehi is on course to take one of two starting centre-back spots if he continues to star for Crystal Palace.
John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah and Trevoh Chalobah have all been in Tuchel’s squads and could battle it out to partner Guehi.
Meanwhile, Jarrad Branthwaite and Levi Colwill could make a late push if they can get enough minutes under their belt when they return from injury in 2026.
There may not be a place for Harry Maguire, though, who appears to have fallen out of favour at international level.
4 Central midfielders
1
Declan Rice
Arsenal
2
Elliot Anderson
Nottingham Forest
3
Adam Wharton
Crystal Palace
4
Jordan Henderson
Brentford
5
Alex Scott
Bournemouth
6
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
AC Milan
7
Conor Gallagher
Atletico Madrid
8
Curtis Jones
Liverpool
Right now, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look set to be the two starting central midfielders in Tuchel’s England side, allowing the Three Lions’ attacking stars freedom to shine.
Adam Wharton appears to be next in line to come in for either Rice or Anderson, whereas Jordan Henderson has also made a few of Tuchel’s squads.
Alex Scott of Bournemouth was also handed a maiden call-up and AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been in Tuchel’s squads in 2025.
5 Attacking midfielders
1
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
2
Phil Foden
Man City
3
Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
4
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
5
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal
6
Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
Further forward in an attacking midfield role, Tuchel will surely select Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Real Madrid star Bellingham appears to be getting back to his best, whereas Tuchel sees Foden as a central player over a winger.
Cole Palmer has been injured at Chelsea and may have some work to do in 2026 to make the 26-player squad ahead of Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze or Morgan Gibbs-White.
6 Forwards
1
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
2
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
3
Anthony Gordon
Newcastle
4
Marcus Rashford
Barcelona
5
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham
6
Noni Madueke
Arsenal
7
Jack Grealish
Everton
8
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
9
Danny Welbeck
Brighton
Captain Harry Kane will lead the line for England in North America, providing he stays fit, after starring once again for Bayern Munich, and Tuchel could select a number of versatile forwards instead of another striker to back up the Bayern Munich star.
The likes of Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen can play out wide or through the middle, whereas Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon are currently first-choice wingers.
Players with work to do to make the squad include Ollie Watkins and maybe even Jack Grealish, despite his positive start at Everton. A surprise name to keep an eye on could be Brighton’s Danny Welbeck following his fine form in the Premier League.