England World Cup squad 2026: Tuchel’s preliminary 55 predicted

May 11. That is the deadline for the preliminary list. Final 26 by May 30. First game June 17 in Dallas against Croatia. Sixty years ends or continues in North America this summer, and it all starts with who gets on the plane.

For everything you need to know about how England have fared in the tournament before, our complete guide to England’s World Cup history covers every campaign since 1966.

Tuchel’s last look at his squad was the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley. A draw, then a defeat. No Kane for Japan and England did not have a clue how to score without him. Bear that in mind when reading what follows. Here is our predicted preliminary 55.

WHAT THE PRELIMINARY 55 IS AND WHY IT MATTERS

Worth knowing before the list. Every nation submits between 35 and 55 players to FIFA by May 11. Not the 26 who travel. From those 55, Tuchel trims to his final squad by May 30. The preliminary list is injury cover, insurance, and the last chance for fringe players to argue their case. Players left off the 55 cannot be called up later unless replacing an injured player. So the bubble players here are not dead in the water. They just need to stay fit and hope someone ahead of them goes down.

ENGLAND’S GROUP AND WHAT IT DEMANDS

Group L. Croatia on June 17 in Dallas. Ghana on June 23 in Boston. Panama on June 27 in New Jersey. Base camp in Kansas City, Missouri.

Croatia in the opener is the fixture that keeps coming up. Finalists in 2018, third in 2022. They beat England in the 2018 semi-final and England have had awkward nights against them ever since. Yes, Modric is getting on. The whole team is. But organised, experienced, tournament-hardened sides do not just fade because the years are ticking. Ghana and Panama are sides England should beat if the squad is functioning. The opener in Dallas sets the tone for the whole group. Tuchel’s selection has to be built around winning that game first.

England’s path through Group L looks manageable on paper, but our full breakdown of England’s World Cup group with Croatia, Ghana and Panama analysed explains why the Croatia opener in Dallas could define the entire tournament.

GOALKEEPERS

Jordan Pickford is on the plane. Has been for two years. The only question is whether Tuchel publicly backs him enough. He plays every game regardless.

Dean Henderson is the clear second choice. Led Squawka’s goalkeeper rankings this season, won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, plays every week. Tuchel trusts him.

James Trafford gets the third spot. Manchester City’s backup, nominated partly for his Under-21 tournament experience. FIFA mandates three keepers in every World Cup squad.

Ramsdale was packed off home before the Japan game. Make of that what you will.

CENTRE-BACKS

Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa started the group stage of Euro 2024 together and are back as the partnership. Both got the day off for Uruguay while Tuchel trialled alternatives. Passports stamped.

John Stones is likely but the fitness record makes this genuinely uncertain. Barely played all season, City’s campaign has been disrupted, and Tuchel needs to know what he is getting. He goes in the preliminary 55. The final 26 is a conversation for late May.

Dan Burn was also rested for Uruguay. That tells you everything. Tuchel FaceTimed him at 10pm when he first picked him and told him he was in the squad. Burn brings aerial presence and can cover left back too.

Harry Maguire gets into the preliminary 55, which is more than looked likely six months ago. Back in the picture after two years away, did okay against Uruguay, then Tuchel called him his fifth-choice centre-back in a press conference. Publicly. Fifth out of five. He might make it to the 26. He might not.

Levi Colwill gets included as a left-sided option and cover.

FULL-BACKS

Nico O’Reilly owns the left side under Tuchel now. Got a rest for the Uruguay game, scored twice in the Carabao Cup final this season. Starting.

Tino Livramento is back in the squad after the injury that kept him out of the autumn internationals. Best right back option Tuchel has right now.

Reece James is the one everyone keeps asking about. The talent has never been in doubt. The availability record over the last three years has been the problem. If he is fit in May, he gets on the plane. If he is not, he does not. It is that simple and that frustrating.

Lewis Hall returns to camp after injury and provides left back cover. Young, improving, versatile enough to back up O’Reilly.

Djed Spence goes in the preliminary 55 as depth. Can cover both sides.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD

Rice got a rest for Uruguay. Non-negotiable. Bellingham the same. Move on.

Elliot Anderson was also rested for Uruguay and played 90 minutes against Japan. He is the starter alongside Rice in Tuchel’s system and has been since his debut. Seven caps and still only 22.

Kobbie Mainoo made his debut under Tuchel in March. Struggled against Japan alongside Anderson but that is not enough to drop him from the 55. Too much talent in there.

Jordan Henderson turns 36 the day England kick off against Croatia. Tuchel keeps picking him and keeps being asked about it and keeps not caring what anyone thinks. He will be in the squad.

Adam Wharton is bubble. Tuchel likes what he does but has competition for the spot.

James Garner shone on debut against Uruguay. The Everton midfielder impressed enough to make a serious case. Preliminary 55 for sure, fighting for the final spot.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD AND WINGERS

Bukayo Saka was rested for Uruguay. Arsenal’s run-in and the Champions League semi-final has been brutal on his body, and Tuchel will be keeping an eye on the injury situation through May. He is on the plane regardless. Everything in this England attack runs through him.

Morgan Rogers was also rested for Uruguay. Has had 13 combined goals and assists for Villa this season. Versatile across the forward line. Tuchel trusts him.

Anthony Gordon was rested for Uruguay. Newcastle’s season has been mixed but Gordon under Tuchel has been a consistent performer on the left side.

Marcus Rashford goes in. The Barcelona revival has been real. Goals, assists, and the kind of form that was completely absent for two years at Old Trafford. Tuchel has options on the left but Rashford in form is too good to leave out.

Cole Palmer is in but his place in the final 26 is less secure than it was a year ago. The groin injury disrupted his season. The brilliance is still there, just not as consistently. He makes the preliminary 55 without question.

Phil Foden makes the list but is not starting. Tuchel questioned his impact after Japan and the false nine experiment was a failure. He gets the nod for the preliminary 55, but the final 26 is genuinely in doubt for the first time.

Jarrod Bowen goes in as the reliable option. Consistent goal threat, does not need the ball constantly, works hard off it. Tuchel’s kind of player.

Eberechi Eze makes the preliminary 55 on current form even if the manager has not made him a regular. His Arsenal season justifies inclusion. Whether he makes the 26 is another question entirely.

STRIKERS

Harry Kane was rested for Uruguay. Without him against Japan, England created nothing. Tuchel said so directly afterwards. The whole attack is built around him.

Ollie Watkins is the backup striker. Mobile, good in the air, works hard. The clear second choice and probably the only other specialist striker in the final 26.

A third striker goes in the preliminary 55. Dominic Solanke makes sense as cover. Ivan Toney has not been called up since June and looks out of the picture.

WHO IS NOT IN THE PRELIMINARY 55

Aaron Ramsdale, sent home from the March camp. Fikayo Tomori, sent home before Japan, three years since his last cap before March. Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent home from the March camp. Trent Alexander-Arnold has not featured under Tuchel since the opening squad and has not been mentioned since. Conor Gallagher never been in Tuchel’s plans.

Preliminary 55 by May 11. Final 26 by May 30. Croatia on June 17. Sixty years.

For all our World Cup 2026 coverage and England squad updates as the deadline approaches, plus the best ways to watch England’s group stage games live, we have everything you need ahead of the summer.