World Cup 2026 analysis: Who’s in and who’s at risk of missing out on England’s squad?

With just four months until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, attention is turning to England’s squad picture.

Competition for places is intensifying, with some players pushing their case at the right time and others at risk of missing out altogether.

Thomas Tuchel will take 26 Englishmen to North America with the aim of ending sixty years of hurt and finally bringing football home.

Some players will be unanimous selections, skipper Harry Kane, the ever-reliable Jordan Pickford and the running-machine Declan Rice will all be on the plane barring injury.

However, with two-thirds of the season played, some have either helped or hindered their case to make the squad with their performances so far.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Oliver Powell looks at the players that could make or miss the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Phil Foden

Foden has been without doubt one of the great talents England have produced this century, winning countless honours as a key cog in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City machine.

Euro 2024 felt an opportunity for Foden to lay his flag as England’s main man off the back of winning Premier League Player of the Year, yet the Mancunian flattered to deceive in the shadow of Jude Bellingham.

Foden hasn’t found that 2024 form since, with a run of goals in December not continuing and now finding himself down the pecking order at City behind new arrival Antoine Semenyo.

England have too much attacking strength-in-depth to afford Foden a place on reputation.

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Eberechi Eze

The 2024/25 FA Cup winner would’ve been a shoe-in for Tuchel’s squad last summer, but since making the switch to boyhood team Arsenal it’s hard to justify his inclusion.

Four goals and two assists in the Premier League (three of which came against Tottenham Hotspur) isn’t the return Eze would’ve hoped for but a more pressing concern is Mikel Arteta’s reluctance to start him.

His last league start came in December against Wolves, and whilst we recognise the talent of the player, the limited attacking places should be rewarded to those bang-in form and playing regular football such as Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The controversial summer switch to Madrid hasn’t panned out how Trent Alexander-Arnold would’ve envisioned.

The manager who brought him to the club has now left, he’s dealt with injuries and found himself benched in big games against Barcelona and Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold and England haven't ever really been a happy marriage despite his years of outstanding performances at Anfield, and Tuchel hasn’t gone to lengths to accommodate the right-back.

Maybe remaining at Liverpool would’ve served him better in making the World Cup squad.

Kobbie Mainoo

Onto players on the rise - Kobbie Mainoo’s re-emergence from the cold shoulder of Ruben Amorim has him knocking on the England door once again.

Mainoo became key alongside Declan Rice in Euro 2024, and his prominence in a surging Manchester United side under Michael Carrick will surely put his name back in the hat.

Elliot Anderson has been Tuchel’s choice so far to partner Rice, but with Nottingham Forest 17th and struggling it may be that Mainoo steals the show in the United limelight and returns not only to the squad but the starting 11.

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Harry Maguire

Mainoo’s team-mate has had a resurgence too, although it's a tale from the other end of a career for Harry Maguire.

Maguire has been a stalwart in Carrick’s side, and his rich history with the national team should help his case for re-claiming a centre-back spot.

Maguire, alongside John Stones, was integral to the success of the Gareth Southgate era, and whilst Tuchel may be looking to integrate younger players, his faith in the likes of Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson shows there is space for senior statesmen.

England could certainly do a lot worse than give Maguire his first call-up since September 2024.

James Garner

A final wildcard selection - Garner doesn’t bring a sexy reputation to the table but his performances in a consistent Everton side shouldn’t go unrewarded.

Although uncapped, Garner is 25 and has bags of Premier League experience including starting every match this season for the Toffees and ranking 7th for big chances created this season ahead of Foden, Adam Wharton and Anthony Gordon.

Midfield is a hotly disputed part of Tuchel’s squad, and whilst the likes of Mainoo, Anderson, and Wharton deserve consideration, Garner’s performances this season have rocketed his name into the ball-park of international recognition.

Other names to keep an eye on

Cole Palmer has been on the outskirts of the England squad following injuries but his return to form will surely be on Tuchel’s mind.

Lewis Hall, despite Newcastle’s struggles, has been a stand-out in arguably England’s weakest position of left-back and could make a claim to a place.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Gordon will be looking over their shoulder as it nears the time for Tuchel to select from the obscene amount of attacking talent, given both haven’t replicated their form of last season.

The Jude Bellingham debate will no doubt rumble on, although it seems unthinkable he won’t at least be in the squad given his pure match-winning ability.

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