England closed their pre-World Cup send-off series with a defeat to Japan at Wembley. Thomas Tuchel used two 35-man groups across the friendlies with Uruguay and Japan to evaluate options; he now has to reduce that list to 26 for the tournament opener against Croatia on 17 June in Arlington, Texas. Below is a 26-man prediction and the thinking behind the key calls.
Predicted 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
Defenders: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Lewis Hall.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Danny Welbeck, Jarrod Bowen.
Why these picks?
Defence: Tuchel has a wealth of centre-back options, but balance matters. Stones, Guehi and Konsa have been consistent and trusted; Maguire is retained as experienced cover. His tournament know‑how, aerial presence and leadership provide a reliable option off the bench and an alternative profile to ball-playing partners. Full-back and wing-back choices prioritise versatility: Reece James and Tino Livramento give right-side quality while Lewis Hall offers a natural left-sided option and impressed in his cameo against Japan. Nico O’Reilly is included as a developmental cover with positional flexibility.
Midfield: The spine is clear with Bellingham and Declan Rice anchoring the engine room. Kobbie Mainoo gets the nod over an older dressing-room figure because his recent form under Michael Carrick at Manchester United shows a player ready to influence games; he offers energy, ball progression and a clear upward trajectory. Adam Wharton’s inclusion is based on his technical ability and passing range — his style can look languid at times, but his quality in possession is a useful tactical option. Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers bring different attacking midfield profiles and squad depth.
Attack: Harry Kane remains undroppable and is the central focus of the attack. Saka, Rashford and Bowen cover wide and inside-right roles, while Eze, Palmer and Gordon provide creativity and goal threat from midfield or front three rotations. Cole Palmer’s unpredictability, ability to change games and set-piece/penalty competence earn him a place over Phil Foden, whose club season and international starts did not match his usual peak and who struggled in the short false-nine experiment.
The striker backup question: Kane is the obvious starter, but his injury would leave a gap. Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin offered little in the friendlies and Ollie Watkins was not in the extended list, so this prediction opts for experience and versatility in Danny Welbeck. Uncapped in the senior team since 2018, Welbeck has returned to strong club form, brings hard work, hold-up and finishing, and is well-liked in camps — a dependable short-term understudy for Kane.
Notable omissions and fringe contenders
Players still pushing for places include Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Luke Shaw, Fikayo Tomori, Jarell Quansah, Jordan Henderson, James Garner, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ben White. Some — like Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson — remain realistic late inclusions depending on fitness or tactical tweaks; others would likely need injuries or a sudden form spike.
Other considerations
Cole Palmer’s selection over Foden is a tactical call based on recent minutes and penalty/set-piece ability. Tuchel has praised James Garner and might contemplate him as a late bolter given his England debut, but competition in midfield and wing-back roles is fierce. The final 26 must blend experience, form and versatility while ensuring reliable cover, particularly behind Kane.
Tuchel will review the friendlies closely and weigh dressing-room dynamics, tactical flexibility and fitness. The choices above aim to combine tournament experience with in-form young talent and cover across key positions, keeping one eye on dependable backups for England’s main threats.
