England squad analysis: Who will be on the plane to the 2026 World Cup?

A lot has been made of England's uninspiring performances in the early stages of the Thomas Tuchel era but Tuesday's 5-0 rout of a talented Serbia side was a much-needed step in the right direction.

Nikola Milenkovic's 72nd-minute dismissal helped England add some gloss to the scoreline in Belgrade, but they were well on top before then and it will have heartened Tuchel that his side were able to achieve such a comprehensive victory in the absence of numerous key players.

Tuesday's resounding win has left the German with some pressing decisions to make. Does he stick with the young stars who excelled against the Serbs or replicate the wrongdoings of many of his predecessors and attempt to shoehorn his 'best' players into his 11?

It is a nice problem to have, but it is one which will be giving Tuchel a few long nights at the tactics board.

Bookmakers are also struggling to pin down exactly which Three Lions players will be on the plane to the US, Canada and Mexico next summer, with odds for some World Cup hopefuls players fluctuating almost daily.

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On the plane

The players who are virtually guaranteed selection need no introduction. Barring injury, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford, Bukayo Saka and Marc Guehi will be heading across the Atlantic and almost certainly be in Tuchel's first starting 11 at the World Cup.

There is an ongoing debate as to whether Tuchel will have to choose between Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer or whether he can accommodate both, but regardless of what side of the fence you are on, the pair are certainties.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Reece James appear to be Tuchel's favoured full-back pairing and should be joined by fellow defenders John Stones, Ezri Konsa and, despite his omission from the latest squad, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Elliot Anderson was the biggest winner of this month's international break. The Forest schemer was 5-2 to be in England's World Cup squad at the start of the Premier League season but is now just 1-2 after starring in midfield alongside Rice.

The final guaranteed spots will go to those who are the best back-up options in their positions. Ollie Watkins is an obvious deputy for Kane while James Trafford and Dean Henderson are the only English goalkeepers even close to matching Pickford's quality.

In the departure lounge

Even though he started every game at Euro 2024 and is 1-10 to make the squad, Phil Foden cannot be considered a certainty to make the cut and it would be a major surprise to see him start the tournament.

Not only is he competing with Bellingham, Palmer and Saka for a spot behind Kane but Tuchel clearly likes Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers, who can both be considered ahead of Foden in the pecking order at present. The City star should be in Tuchel's squad but consistent poor performances for England mean that is not a foregone conclusion.

Madueke, who scored his first international goal against Serbia, was 6-4 in July but is now evens with bet365. As at his club Arsenal, he is likely to be Saka's understudy on the right, edging out Jarrod Bowen, who has been pushed out to 6-5 from 5-6.

Rogers, meanwhile, started ahead of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White against Andorra and Serbia, and is one of Tuchel's favoured options in that playmaking role.

The 5-4 available for Tino Livramento looks good value given he can play on either side of defence, while 10-11 Adam Wharton is another who is a big price considering he would have possibly started ahead of Anderson had he not pulled out of the squad.

Kane's tendency to drop deep was a hindrance at Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate played three players behind him who prefer to receive the ball to feet rather than run in behind. Tuchel has immediately rectified that by bringing in Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon, who could be battling it out for a place on the left side of England's attack. At 6-5, Rashford is an interesting proposition if he can rediscover his mojo at Barcelona.

Waiting by the phone

Tuchel has a raft of players on the periphery of his squad, although many are battling it out for a single spot.

The most interesting tussle is between Eze and Gibbs-White. The latter has yet to start a game for England and would probably be the one to miss out if it became a toss up between the two.

Tuchel has utilised a back three previously so will need some cover in central defence. Dan Burn has played regularly under the German and looks a good bet to make the squad at 6-4 given he can also play left-back, while Trevoh Chalobah and Jarrad Branthwaite are alternatives.

However, assuming he recovers from an ACL injury in time to play for Chelsea before the end of the season, Levi Colwill could still make the squad. The Chelsea defender would arguably be a starter if fit and the 8-1 on offer is a huge price.

Jack Grealish's excellent start on loan at Everton gives Tuchel another dilemma to make in forward areas, although it is not as if England are lacking creative attacking players these days.

Levi Colwill is a big price to make England's World Cup squad if he can return from injuryCredit: Visionhaus/Getty Images

Staying at home

Tuchel has looked to the future in qualifying and the days of Southgate's old guard are numbered as a result.

The German could be tempted to pick Jordan Henderson for his experience but the emergence of Wharton and Anderson means the Brentford man's phone may remain silent come selection day.

Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker were cornerstones of England's defence under Southgate but it is hard to see them playing their way back into contention.

Kobbie Mainoo, who started last year's Euros final against Spain, was 4-6 to be on the plane just two months ago but has fallen out of favour at Manchester United and with England and is now 9-4. His Three Lions hopes may only be revived by a January move away from Old Trafford.

The two unluckiest players set to miss out as it stands have to be Harvey Elliott and Lewis Hall.

Hall was brilliant before his injury last term but the versatility of his Newcastle teammates Livramento and Burn puts them ahead of him, while Elliott, named player of the tournament as England's Under-21s won back-to-back European titles this summer, will need to outperform his new Aston Villa teammate Rogers to have any chance of making the squad.

Jamie Griffith's 26-man World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson.

Defenders: Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Dan Burn, Levi Colwill (injury permitting), Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento.

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke.

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Published on 10 September 2025inWorld Cup