Half of England squad could be forced to wear different kit to teammates at World Cup

Several England players and other football stars will be made to wear a unique badge on their kits at the World Cup.

In just one month, the World Cup will kick off as co-hosts Mexico welcome South Africa to the iconic Estadio Azteca for the opening fixture of the biggest competition in football.

The United States of America and Canada will also host matches throughout the World Cup, with a record 48 teams playing 104 matches throughout the summer.

Ahead of the World Cup, England boss Thomas Tuchel will name his 26-player squad for the World Cup on Friday 22 May, with the German manager facing a number of difficult selections.

However, among those expected to be included in the squad will be several English stars making their World Cup debuts, with the likes of The likes of Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer all in contention to make Tuchel's squad.

And it has now been confirmed that those making featuring at the World Cup for the first time will have a special commemorative badge stitched into their kits.

The patches will reportedly look similar to the badge that Chelsea have worn on their kits this season to celebrate winning the Club World Cup last summer.

With so many young players expected to be a part of Tuchel's squad, there could be as many as 13 of debutants featured in Tuchel's 26-man shortlist.

Of course, it's not just English players that will be wearing the badge as they make their first appearances at the World Cup as a number of the biggest players in football will also make their debuts in June.

Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal is among the top players set to play at the World Cup for the first time, alongside the likes of Michael Olise, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Meanwhile the squads of several nations will all be made to wear the badge this year as it marks the first time that the country has made it to the World Cup in recent history.

For example, every player named in the Scotland squad will wear the patches after they qualified for their first World Cup since 1998.

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Haiti and Iraq are among the other nations their World Cup debuts in the expanded tournament this year.

England players who could make their debut at the World Cup

As it stands it is impossible to know just how many players in England's squad will be debutants and therefore will have the special badge present on their kit.

But here is a list of various English players who are in contention for a spot in Tuchel's team who, if included, will make their first appearance at a World Cup this summmer.

Very likely

• Cole Palmer
• Anthony Gordon
• Morgan Rogers
• Adam Wharton
• Marc Guehi
• Ezri Konsa
• Tino Livramento
• Elliot Anderson
• Nico O’Reilly
• Lewis Hall

Likely

• Kobbie Mainoo
• Noni Madueke
• Eberechi Eze
• Dominic Solanke

Outside chance / battling for a place

• James Garner
• Morgan Gibbs-White
• Myles Lewis-Skelly