Published 12:40 13 Nov 2025 GMT

FourFourTwo's Predicted England XI For 2026 World Cup Has Aged Badly Since 2021

FourFourTwo had a go at predicting England's starting XI for the 2026 World Cup.

Nasir Jabbar

FourFourTwo had mixed results when attempting to predict England's starting XI for the 2026 World Cup.

England resume their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday, having qualified for next summer's tournament after beating Latvia 5-0 last month.

They host Serbia tonight before facing Albania on Sunday.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott is in contention to earn his first senior international cap after receiving his first call-up.

The usual names have been selected in Thomas Tuchel's squad, including captain Harry Kane, Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson, who has emerged as key player following his run of starts for the Three Lions.

There are also notable absentees, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has found life tough at Real Madrid following his summer move from Liverpool, and Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount omitted from Tuchel's latest party.

And Alexander-Arnold and Mount were both tipped to start for England at the 2026 World Cup by FourFourTwo.

Their spot in the squad appears unlikely let alone starting in North America.

Mason Mount and Trent Alexander-Arnold during an England training session in 2022. Image: Getty

FourFourTwo, however, predicted Guehi, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to start for England at the 2026 World Cup.

The four England stars are destined to go to the World Cup, with Crystal Palace captain and Arsenal midfielder Rice expected to start if they are fully fit.

Whether Bellingham and Foden start remains to be seen but they seem destined to be included in Tuchel's World Cup squad.

FourFourTwo also backed Dean Henderson to start between the sticks ahead of Jordan Pickford.

Henderson starting over Pickford seems unlikely but the Palace keeper appears set to be named in Tuchel's final party given he has been a regular squad pick during England's World Cup qualifying campaign.

FourFourTwo predicted Dean Henderson to start in goal for England at the 2026 World Cup. Image: Getty

The publication also tipped Ben White, Ryan Sessegnon and Mason Greenwood to start for England at next summer's World Cup.

White hasn't played for his country since a friendly game against Ivory Coast in March 2022 and left the squad for the 2022 World Cup.

He has not been selected for an England squad since, having made himself unavailable for selection in March 2024.

Sessegnon, who burst onto the scene with Fulham, has yet to earn a senior call-up and his inclusion at the World Cup seems unlikely considering he has been overlooked by the German boss.

As for Greenwood, he is not in Tuchel's thoughts and won't be considered for England.