England 26: Tuchel Leaves Out Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, Kane Captains, Bellingham and Rice Anchor the Spine
Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup. The biggest news is the absence of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. Harry Kane captains a side built around Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and the Arsenal attacking corps. England arrive in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, chasing a first World Cup since 1966.
E ngland have named Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the headline a pair of high-profile absences: Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have both been left out. Harry Kane captains the Three Lions in North America. England arrive in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, chasing a first World Cup title since 1966.
A 60-year wait, two Euro final defeats
It has now been 60 years since England last won the FIFA World Cup. They have reached two semi-finals since, at Italia 1990 and Russia 2018, while losing the finals of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. The pressure on Tuchel's side from a success-starved support is acute. England qualified for their eighth consecutive World Cup by winning all eight matches without conceding a goal.
The full 26
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City). Defenders (9): Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur). Midfielders (7): Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal). Forwards (7): Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle).
Palmer and Foden the headline omissions
The biggest names left out are Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. Both have been Premier League regulars throughout the season, and either omission would have been newsworthy on its own. Together they push the picture of Tuchel deciding the balance of the squad belongs elsewhere, with a midfield built around Rice and Bellingham, and an attack that leans on Saka, Madueke and Rashford for wide options rather than the Manchester City and Chelsea creators.
Kane, Bellingham, Rice lead the spine
Harry Kane is captain and England's all-time leading scorer. The Bayern Munich striker has been in prolific form for club and country, netting 60 goals from 53 appearances across the season. Jude Bellingham lines up behind him at 22, after his impact in the run to the Euro 2024 final lost to Spain. Declan Rice anchors the midfield off the back of a standout campaign for an Arsenal side that topped the Premier League and reached the UEFA Champions League final. Jordan Pickford will extend his record for the most tournament appearances by an England goalkeeper.
Group L and the schedule
England open Group L against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on June 17 at 13:00 PDT, face Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts on June 23 at 13:00 PDT, and close the group against Panama in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 27 at 14:00 PDT. Croatia bring Luka Modrić to a final World Cup, Ghana arrive as a four-time AFCON winner under Otto Addo, and Panama are at their second World Cup. Tuchel's side will chase top spot to anchor the friendlier half of the new 32-team knockout bracket.
Quick facts
Captain: Harry Kane. Head coach: Thomas Tuchel. World Cup appearances including 2026: 17. Best result: winners, 1966.
Reporting: The FA / Olympics.com, May 22, 2026.