Jamie Carragher Picks His 26-Man England Squad For the 2026 World Cup
Thomas Tuchel was appointed by the Football Association (FA) for one reason: to win the 2026 World Cup. The German will travel with 26 players to North America for this summer’s showpiece event and Jamie Carragher has named ten England players who he believes are should be included in the 52-year-old’s World Cup squad.
Former boss Gareth Southgate led the one-time winners of the World Cup to back-to-back finals of the European Championships but a 2-1 defeat to Spain meant that he was relieved of his duties. Tuchel swiftly became his primary replacement.
Whether England have ample firepower to knock Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina off their perch remains to be seen this summer but, on talent alone, the Three Lions are certainly up there as being one of the competition favourites – alongside the likes of Spain and France. But which 26 players should be issued a spot in the squad under Tuchel’s watch?
Who Should Be Included England’s 2026 World Cup Squad, According to Carragher
Jordan Pickford, despite the odd bit of clamour over his position, is England’s go-to choice between the sticks. His experience on the international stage – combined with his hardened mentality – means that he’d be Carragher’s starting goalkeeper at the World Cup. In the eyes of the Liverpudlian, Chelsea captain Reece James is also a shoo-in.
There’s plenty of competition for places in the right-back berth but James, who is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football, is currently leading the charge, it would seem. After years of England’s John Stones-Harry Maguire partnership, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi will likely be the two starting centre-backs for Tuchel in the summer months. Naturally, defender-turned-pundit Carragher believes both should be reserved spots on the plane.
Elliot Anderson, thanks to his form this season, has given Tuchel an answer to his engine room conundrum. The Nottingham Forest man, a box-to-box presence who has been inked with a big-money move in the summer, is more-than-likely to partner Arsenal’s Declan Rice in the middle of this park this summer.
Rice was, of course, included as one of Carragher’s ten; as was Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa. A slaloming dribbler, the ex-Manchester City prospect would be taking the spot of Cole Palmer, it seems, but it’s hard to argue given the pair’s respective form of late. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal was also named by the ex-Reds captain.
Undoubtedly England’s best option on the right, Saka may be struggling in terms of his final third output at club level, but what he brings in terms of his creativity is second to none. The London-born wide man’s working relationship with Jude Bellingham, another player given the nod by Carragher, could inspire England to greatness this summer.
Bellingham’s case is interesting. He’s not always been at the top of Tuchel’s pecking order, it seems, after the German coach outed him for his on-field behaviour – but his talent is undeniable. He needs to be on the plane.
It should come as little to no surprise that Harry Kane, England’s all-time leading goalscorer and a centre-forward in terrific club form for Bayern Munich, has also been given the nod by Carragher.
Although he is only convinced about the aforementioned ten stars being guaranteed a spot, he also named 16 other players who would complete his 26-man squad if he was forced to choose on current form. Dean Henderson and James Trafford, despite his lack of minutes for City, would complete the goalkeeping department. Lewis Hall, the aforementioned Shaw, Tino Livramento and Trent Alexander-Arnold would also get the nod.
Strengthening their options at centre-back, Carragher also opted for Trevoh Chalobah and Harry Maguire. In the midfield, he’d also add the seasoned Jordan Henderson to mix alongside the young duo of Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo.
