England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, leaving out some familiar names while handing opportunities to emerging talents. The Three Lions will face Andorra and Serbia as they continue their qualifying campaign.
One of the biggest omissions is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The defender, who has struggled for playing time at Real Madrid after losing his spot to Dani Carvajal, has not been called up. Tuchel also has to deal with a number of injury absences, including Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Levi Colwill.
Other notable absentees include Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, and Phil Foden. All three have been regulars for England in recent years but were overlooked this time. Their exclusion marks a shift in Tuchel’s selection strategy as he looks to reshape his squad with a mix of form players and promising youth.
Despite the setbacks, Tuchel has named a balanced squad across all positions. In goal, Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and James Trafford will battle for the starting role. The defense includes Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, and John Stones.
The midfield features a blend of youth and experience, with Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Sam Rogers, and Adam Wharton all included. Up front, the attack will be spearheaded by captain Harry Kane, supported by Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, and Ollie Watkins.
England’s qualifiers will see them travel to Andorra before hosting Serbia in what promises to be two crucial fixtures. With several stars sidelined, Tuchel will rely on depth and fresh energy to secure the points needed to strengthen England’s World Cup hopes.
