Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about England
Harry Kane is chasing a second World Cup Golden Boot having claimed his first in 2018 courtesy of six goals in Russia
- Published
Get the lowdown on every team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at England.
What can I expect from England?
No one can accuse Thomas Tuchel of bowing to popular opinion. His eclectic squad ruffled feathers and raised eyebrows, but he was never going to waiver from his belief that forging a winning side means you don't have to select the "most talented 26 players".
An historic qualifying campaign of eight wins from eight with no goals conceded saw the Three Lions dominate possession & attack with intent.
Fans will be hoping the handbrake stays off at the World Cup, but the laboured displays in March friendlies were a wake-up call.
The German wants his side to replicate the physicality of a Premier League team and be on the front foot, but the sapping heat of North America will temper this.
The set-piece strengths of Arsenal's Rice & Saka will be crucial as is Tuchel's "special operations team" on the bench, who've been picked to perform defined roles.
What are England's strengths?
This is England's most experienced ever squad in terms of World Cup appearances. Twenty two of the squad have won a trophy since the start of 2024-25. Harry Kane has had the most prolific campaign of his career. Elliot Anderson's emergence looks to have filled the troublesome No.6 position.
And what about their weaknesses?
They are always a Kane injury away from a full-blown crisis. Will they rue no Palmer, Foden or Wharton to provide a defence-splitting pass? Can they cope with the heat? Will Tuchel and Bellingham get on? Is John Stones fully fit?
How might England line up?
Which players should I look out for?
Harry Kane's 61 club goals was 19 more than any player in Europe's top five leagues and matched Cristiano Ronaldo's best-ever club season. Only Kylian Mbappe (12) has scored more in the last two World Cups than his eight. A Ballon d'Or is in reach.
John Stones has started England's last 26 major tournament games - not bad for a player that only played in 12.8% of possible PL mins this season in his Man City swansong. The elegant defender has the best passing accuracy (95%) of any World Cup player since 1966.
Elliot Anderson had the most touches (3,300), won the most duels (297) & won the most possession (306) of any top-flight player during a season in which he had to deal with the death of his mother.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson emerged as a key figure for England during qualifying after he was given his debut by Thomas Tuchel in September 2025
Who is England's head coach?
Appointed as only England's third non-British manager, Thomas Tuchel's initial 18-month contract was extended to Euro 2028 after an excellent start. At club level, the German has won a slew of trophies including the Champions League with Chelsea.
How did England qualify?
They became the first European side to win as many as eight World Cup qualifiers without conceding. Harry Kane scored eight of their 22 goals.
Where can I watch England?
All of England's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!
Give me a fact to impress my friends
Three lions have been used as England's football emblem since 1863 and they debuted it on their first official international against Scotland in 1872.
The animal has been associated with the Royal Family since Henry I included a single lion in his coat of arms during his reign from 1100 to 1135. He added another after his marriage.
His grandson, Henry II, then added a third lion to his crest after he too got wed.
But it was only after the reign of Henry II's son Richard I that the three lions were popularised and adopted as the royal arms by every monarch.
Now give me some proper detail
"We need a bit of luck. We need our selection right. Stay healthy. Catch momentum. Build a brotherhood. Play with courage, hunger. And take advantage of special moments."
Thomas Tuchel's Churchillian words make winning a World Cup sound reasonably straightforward. Aside from spats with Jude Bellingham, a dodgy performance against Senegal and moaning about the Wembley atmosphere, his reign as England boss got off to such a serene start that fans had a spring in their step and were quietly humming Three Lions.
With new additions Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson to the fore they booked their spot with ease, becoming the first European side to win as many as eight World Cup qualifiers without conceding.
But March's friendlies jolted everyone back to reality. After a turgid draw with Uruguay, defeat to Japan was their first ever against an Asian nation and ended a run of scoring in 21 successive games.
The absence of the injured/rested Harry Kane gave another stark reminder of what life is like without Europe's most in-form striker. Since the 2022 World Cup their win rate with the Ballon d'Or chaser in their team is 75%, without him it's 29%. No Kane, no gain.
Tuchel's squad announcement then sent the nation into meltdown, prompting every emotion from resigned groans to outright indignation, but will his punchy selections see him labelled a genius or a fool? Whatever your take, it's the most experienced squad England have ever sent with a combined 71 World Cup games between them.
How have England done at previous World Cups?
One of only eight teams to lift the World Cup, the 1966 champions reached their first World Cup semi-final for 28 years in 2018 but were beaten by Croatia in extra time.
