England Announces 26-Man Squad for Upcoming FIFA World Cup

Strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have secured spots on England’s 26-man roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as confirmed by coach Thomas Tuchel.

Toney has shown strong performance with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, while Watkins has excelled at Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League.

“It has been a tough process to decide on the nomination, but I have full belief in this group of players,” Tuchel stated during the roster announcement on Friday. “They all deserve their place. The squad and everyone involved with the team will give all we can to make the country proud. We know they are behind us and we hope for a very special summer.

“Everything I know about international football and everything I hear about international football is that it is about chemistry. It is so obvious in this moment that teams win titles.”

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has made the cut, but Manchester United teammate Harry Maguire, Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Manchester City‘s Phil Foden were not as fortunate.

“A lot of factors play into that nomination process,” Tuchel noted. “I love the difficult decisions, and I love the tough decisions — they bring a certain edge. That is what you need to go all the way. It is hard to please. In the end, we have to pick the squad that we as a staff are convinced of and really believe in.

“You feel the love of your coach, and you feel the trust. In the end, it comes down to this — who do we really trust? The connection has to be there. Somehow, it is a bit of a tool to challenge myself. What would I think from the outside? Mostly it is about the energy, connection and trust between me and the players.”

The squad will play pre-World Cup friendlies in Florida, facing New Zealand in Tampa on June 6 and Costa Rica in Orlando four days later.

England’s World Cup base camp will be in Kansas City, Missouri, with their Group L schedule kicking off against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on June 17. This will be followed by matches against Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23 and Panama in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 27.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford

Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones

Midfielders: Elliott Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers

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