What happened to the 11 players FourFourTwo tipped to start for England at 2026 World Cup back in 2021

In 2021, FourFourTwo predicted England's starting XI at the 2026 World Cup - with mixed results.

The Three Lions kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday by facing Albania at Wembley.

It will be new manager Thomas Tuchel's first match in charge after he started his role on January 1.

The German signed an 18-month contract taking him through to the World Cup, which will be his sole focus as he looks to add a second star to England's shirt.

Gareth Southgate took the Three Lions to the quarter-finals in Qatar in 2022, but it is abundantly clear that only winning the tournament in 2026 will do in Tuchel's mind.

He has opted for a mixture of experience and youth in his first squad, with veteran players such as Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker joined by new call-ups such as Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento and Morgan Rogers.

Fans are already beginning to predict what sort of squad Tuchel could call up for the World Cup should England qualify as expected.

It will likely have a different look to it to what many of us could predict, with injury, form and specific skillsets all having an impact on Tuchel's selection once next summer rolls around.

But in 2021, FourFourTwo attempted to try and predict who could be starring for England in five years' time. Here is what they went with, and where each player is playing now:

Dean Henderson

FourFourTwo predicted that Dean Henderson would usurp Jordan Pickford as England's number one in 2026.

That isn't within the realms of possibility, particularly as Henderson has had a solid season at Crystal Palace - he was still at Manchester United when the prediction was made - and Tuchel has promised a clean slate when it comes to the goalkeeping position. It is still hard to see Pickford losing his place, though.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still one of Liverpool's key players four years on - but while he seems certain to be called up next year injury permitting, the main question will be where he is playing his club football.

The right-back's contract is up at the end of the summer amid major reported interest from Real Madrid.

Ben White

Ben White in action for Arsenal (Image: Getty)

Back in 2021, it was a pretty safe bet to predict that Brighton starlet Ben White would be an England regular in five years' time.

But at the moment, he isn't in the England picture. Having declined to play under Gareth Southgate after a reported disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland, White walked out of the 2022 World Cup and hasn't played for England since - despite his superb form as a right-back for Arsenal.

Tuchel has, however, opened the door for a recall, with a recent injury preventing any opportunity of a call-up this time.

Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi is another England star destined to go to the World Cup.

The Crystal Palace man is competing with Harry Maguire for a spot on the left side of England's central defence and, with the Manchester United defender missing this camp through injury, Guehi has a chance to stake his claim.

Ryan Sessegnon

FourFourTwo quoted Ryan Sessegnon as an 'attack-minded full-back' in 2026, able to 'thrive down England's left flank'.

At the time, the 21-year-old was a part of Tottenham's squad, but his defensive capabilities held him back under Jose Mourinho.

Subsequent Spurs bosses didn't particularly trust Sessegnon either, and he returned to former club Fulham under Marco Silva in the summer.

Fulham defender Ryan Sessegnon scored in his side's 2-0 win over former club Spurs on Sunday (Image: Twitter)

He's starting to show signs of improvement this season - so it's not time to write off the left-back yet.

Declan Rice

Another player destined for World Cup selection, Rice has gone from strength to strength since 2021.

His playing style has been changed at Arsenal from the midfielder that would dominate in both boxes at West Ham, but given that he's stayed fit amid the Gunners' torrid injury record, that may have been for the best. He should be an automatic starter in the States.

Jude Bellingham

Again, it wasn't too difficult to predict Jude Bellingham's meteoric rise to the top.

The midfielder had signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2020, and would move to Real Madrid three years later. Now, he's one of the world's top midfielders - and will be pivotal for England at the World Cup.

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka will likely be another player who Tuchel will place great faith in during 2026 - if he is fully fit.

Saka would have been in the German's first England squad if he hadn't torn his hamstring while playing for Arsenal in December.

The 23-year-old is close to making a return but fans will desperately be hoping that is the last of his serious injury problems, especially given just how much Mikel Arteta has played him over recent seasons.

Phil Foden

Phil Foden has starred in Manchester City's domestic and European triumphs over recent seasons, but has never achieved the same sort of success with England.

He was often played on the left side of attack by Gareth Southgate, but hasn't pulled up too many trees in the number 10 position either. A change of manager might be just what he needs, but Foden will undoubtedly go to the States regardless.

Mason Mount

When Tuchel was confirmed as England boss in October, Mason Mount would have been an easy name to predict for an England return.

The midfielder has endured injury hell over the past 12 months since signing for Manchester United in 2023, but finally returned to their matchday squad against Leicester after his latest spell on the sidelines totalling four months.

Mount was a regular in England squads before his move and, given his success at Chelsea under Tuchel, it wouldn't be a great surprise to see him back involved by next summer - again, if he can stay fit.

Mason Greenwood

Mason Greenwood was very much on the rise with Manchester United in October 2021, and was a regular starter under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But he is set to be categorically ruled out of playing for England again, as it has been reported that he has applied to switch his international allegiance to Jamaica.

The Marseille striker hasn't played for the Three Lions since October 2020, when he was sent home alongside Foden for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

He was subsequently arrested in January 2022 and later charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control. The charges were discontinued by the CPS in February 2023, who stated that 'the combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction'.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham told reporters earlier this week that Greenwood had not been formerly made unavailable for selection since the CPS' decision, but that Southgate decided not to pick him.