England's Predicted 2026 World Cup XI From 2021 Has Aged Terribly
After Euro 2020, FourFourTwo predicted how England’s XI would shape up during the 2026 World Cup – and it’s fair to say the predictions were mixed in terms of success.
Next summer, Thomas Tuchel’s England side will head to North America with the sole aim of lifting the Three Lions’ first major trophy since 1966.
England have been closer than ever to success in recent years, but silverware narrowly evaded Gareth Southgate’s side between 2016 and 2024.
Southgate led England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and quarter-final in 2022, as well as back-to-back Euros finals in 2020 (tournament held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and most recently in 2024.
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Over the last nine years, several players, including Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, and Jordan Henderson, have featured heavily, with new, up-and-coming stars also being introduced along the way.
So, one of the biggest dilemmas Tuchel will have between now and next summer is team selection.
Between 2002 and 2018, squads consisted of up to 23 players – although this was increased to 26 during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to the extreme physical demands.
As teams witnessed at the 2025 Club World Cup, which took place in North America, temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius, but it remains unclear whether FIFA will permit 26 players in each squad.
You’d at least expect Pickford, Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to be among the first names on Tuchel’s team sheet, but the rest of the side is up for debate.
Predicted England XI for 2026 FIFA World Cup
In 2021, FourFourTwo attempted to predict the England XI for the 2026 tournament, and some calls could be accurate while others are unlikely to come true.
The outlet went for Dean Henderson as the number one goalkeeper, but since 2021, he has featured just three times for England, while Pickford is the Three Lions’ undisputed first choice and has featured in the last four tournaments.
Henderson will likely be the Everton shot stopper’s backup in North America.
FourFourTwo then predicted a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Marc Guehi and Ryan Sessegnon.
Alexander-Arnold has had a turbulent England career and was left out of Tuchel’s squad for the September World Cup qualifiers – although he is still among the contenders to at least feature in some capacity next summer.
As for White and Sessegnon, they do not appear to be part of Tuchel’s plans, with the Arsenal man having left the squad during the 2022 World Cup due to “personal reasons”. White has not been capped since March 2022.
Meanwhile, Fulham left-back Sessegnon has yet to play for England at senior level despite boasting several caps at youth level.
Crystal Palace defender Guehi will likely start next summer and has gone from strength to strength since his first cap back in 2022.
In midfield, the publication went for Bellingham and Declan Rice. And it’s fair to say this will likely prove to be the case next summer – injuries permitting.
On the flanks, FourFourTwo predicted that Saka and Mason Mount would make the starting XI for the tournament.
If Saka’s fit, he will likely start, but Mount’s England career has stalled in recent times, with the Manchester United man having not played for his country since the 2022 World Cup.
FourFourTwo chose Phil Foden as an attacking midfielder, which could prove to be accurate if the Manchester City man returns to his previous form and finds a consistent level of match fitness this season following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.
The outlet snubbed Kane when making their striker prediction and instead went for Mason Greenwood, who was a United player at the time.
However, the 23-year-old has not played for England since September 2020.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, coercive and controlling behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in October 2022.
He denied all allegations against him, and the charges were dropped in February 2023.
The forward is now playing for Ligue 1 outfit Marseille and recently obtained a Jamaican passport – although he has not completed the relevant paperwork to switch registrations to represent the Caribbean nation at this time.
In a recent press conference, Tuchel explained how he had “not spoken” to Greenwood and that he is “not in the mix at the moment”.
Kane will likely start for England next summer, while Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney could provide backup.
Topics: England, Thomas Tuchel, Football, Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, FIFA World Cup
Luke Davies