England’s 2026 World Cup adventure begins on June 17 vs an old nemesis in Croatia, followed by further group matches against Ghana and Panama.
Before that, Thomas Tuchel’s boys take on New Zealand and Costa Rica in two crucial warm-up friendlies.
Those games could help the manager decide his starting XI for the opener, though we are going a bit early and naming our chosen team over two weeks in advance.
Check it out below, and remember to stay up to date with NetBet Sport’s fantastic range of World Cup odds and promotions throughout the entirety of the tournament.
GK – Jordan Pickford
England’s undisputed No1, and has been for quite some time. Pickford enjoyed another top season in an Everton shirt, keeping 11 clean sheets in 37 appearances.
RB – Reece James
If he is fit, James simply has to be in the XI. At his best, the Chelsea captain is among the best right-backs in world football, a defensive monster who can also contribute heavily in the final third.
CB – Ezri Konsa
Despite the inclusion of England veteran John Stones, we believe Konsa is a more worthy selection after playing a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s successful 2025-26 campaign. Stones played just 1,144 minutes of football for Manchester City last season, while Konsa arrives in form having tallied 4,170 minutes. Picking solely on reputation is not something England can fall foul of at this World Cup.
CB – Marc Guehi
Guehi is now one of the first names on the England team sheet – and with good reason! A combative centre-back who has taken his game to another level at Manchester City, Guehi also barely put a foot wrong in England’s run to the Euro 2024 final.
LB – Nico O’Reilly
O’Reilly was the best left-back in the Premier League last season, and his chemistry with City colleague Guehi is a big positive. Furthermore, five of O’Reilly’s eight goal contributions in the top flight came when operating as a full-back, a weapon that Tuchel and England can perhaps utilise throughout the World Cup.
CM – Elliot Anderson
Anderson has established himself as a first-choice pick for England thanks to his brilliant performances with Nottingham Forest. An all-round midfield package who excels in all key facets, Anderson could be a Three Lions mainstay for quite some time. Of course, if he were to pick up an injury, Kobbie Mainoo is a very good back-up option to possess.
CM – Declan Rice
The heartbeat of this England team is Rice, one of the few irreplaceable players. And now a suitable partner has been found in Anderson, the Arsenal star looks primed to take the upcoming tournament by storm after a fabulous 2025-26 season.
CAM – Jude Bellingham
An indifferent campaign at Real Madrid (mainly due to injury) has resulted in Bellingham’s place in the XI coming under the spotlight. But no one can deny his skill, drive and big-game ability, so he simply has to be starting at the World Cup. And with a settled midfield behind him in Anderson and Rice, Bellingham has the perfect platform to thrive.
RW – Bukayo Saka
The 2025-26 campaign was far from Saka’s best in an Arsenal shirt, but his record at international level is stellar. Saka has 14 goals and nine assists for England, scoring three times in four matches at the 2022 World Cup. If he is fit, he plays – it is as simple as that!
ST – Harry Kane
The easiest pick of the lot, and not just because he is England captain! Kane arrives at the World Cup on the back of his best-ever season at club level, scoring 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich. Who would bet against him winning a second Golden Boot?
LW – Morgan Rogers
A controversial pick perhaps, but there is method to the madness. Rogers has performed well for England under Tuchel’s guidance, while Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon have each not done enough to nail down the left-wing position. Of course, both can make huge impacts off the bench, which could be a crucial factor in the North American heat. Rogers played 17 games as a left winger for Villa last season, scoring five goals and registering four assists. And the prospect of him interchanging with Bellingham is certainly an intriguing one.
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