England at World Cup 2026: Squad, Group, Fixtures

England head into World Cup 2026 with the weight of expectation that always travels with them.

A tournament on North American soil, a favourable-looking group on paper and a squad that mixes seasoned tournament campaigners with fresh faces: the ingredients are there for a serious run.

Here's everything you need on England's campaign, drawn together in one place.

England's squad

Thomas Tuchel has named his squad for the finals, with the group basing themselves in Kansas City for the duration of the tournament.

As ever, the squad has prompted plenty of debate, with the omissions of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire among the bigger talking points. Tuchel's selection leans towards balance and consistency, with one or two bold calls, most notably the recall of striker Ivan Toney.

There's real tournament pedigree at the heart of it. Harry Kane captains the side at his third World Cup, equalling the record set by Billy Wright across 1950, 1954 and 1958. Jordan Pickford, John Stones and Marcus Rashford also feature at a third finals, while Jordan Henderson makes a record-equalling fourth World Cup appearance, matching Sir Bobby Charlton. For Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, this is a second World Cup, the next step in careers already moving at pace.

Tuchel has balanced that experience with emerging talent. Nine players will make their senior tournament debuts, among them James Trafford, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah and Elliot Anderson, three of whom lifted the UEFA Under-21 EURO last summer. The likes of Marc Guéhi, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins step onto the World Cup stage for the first time after featuring at EURO 2024.

In goal, Pickford remains the established number one, with Dean Henderson and Trafford providing cover.

In defence, Tuchel has prized versatility, with Stones, Guéhi and Konsa among the central options and full-back depth in James, Livramento and Spence.

In midfield, Rice and Anderson have impressed as a pairing, providing the platform for the creativity of Bellingham, Eze and Rogers further forward, while Henderson's experience is valued as much off the pitch as on it.

In attack, this is built around Kane, with Saka, Rashford, Gordon and Madueke offering pace on the flanks and Watkins and Toney competing to deputise through the middle.

The full squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

With the squad settled, the focus turns to how Tuchel fits his attacking talent into one XI, and whether his preferred defenders can stay fit and firm across a demanding schedule. How those questions are answered could shape the summer.

England's group: Group L

England have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. It's a group England will fancy, though none of the three can be taken lightly.

Croatia are the standout name. They have a habit of deep at major tournaments and grinding out results when it matters, and England know from recent history how awkward they can be. Ghana bring pace and power in attack, and they’re the kind of side that can trouble anyone on their day. Panama are the group's outsiders, but they're well organised and will relish the underdog role against bigger names.

Get out of the group as winners and the knockout draw should look kinder. Slip to the runners-up spot and the path can get tougher, fast. For the full fixture list, dates and kick-off times, see our World Cup 2026 schedule.

England's three group games:

• England vs. Croatia

• England vs. Ghana

• Panama vs. England

England's route to the final

The expanded 48-team format means a longer road than past tournaments, with a new Round of 32 added ahead of the Round of 16. England's exact path depends where they finish in Group L, and on results elsewhere, but here's how the bracket would work.

If England win Group L

England would begin in the Round of 32 in Atlanta, against one of the third-placed qualifiers from Groups E, H, I, J or K. The Round of 16 would then take them to Mexico City, to face either the Group A winners or one of the best third-placed sides from Groups C, E, F, H or I.

In the quarter-finals in Miami, England's opponent would come through a Round of 16 tie between the Group C winners or Group F runners-up, and the Group E runners-up or Group I runners-up. A win there would set up a semi-final in Atlanta against a side from the other part of that half of the draw, before the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July, against a team from the opposite half.

If England finish second in Group L

The runners-up path looks a little different. England would open in the Round of 32 in Toronto against the Group K runners-up, then head to Dallas in the Round of 16 to face either the Group H winners or the Group J runners-up.

The quarter-finals in Los Angeles would bring an opponent from the Group D and Group G section of the draw. A semi-final in Dallas would follow against a side from the other part of that half, before a place in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July, again against a team from the opposite half.

Whichever way the draw breaks, the new format adds an extra knockout round compared with recent tournaments, meaning more games and more chances for the bracket to shift. A team navigating it successfully will need squad depth as much as star quality.

Get into the action with Bally Bet

England's World Cup 2026 campaign is one to watch, and there's plenty to follow between now and the final. Check out the latest England outright odds at Bally Bet today.

Hungry for more World Cup content? Make your way to the Bally Bet blog where you'll find all our guides and articles for this year's tournament.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.