Former Liverpool defender and prominent football pundit Jamie Carragher has unveiled his preferred England squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer. His selections have ignited considerable discussion, particularly due to the exclusion of two Arsenal attackers.
Carragher's Squad Selection and Key Omissions
With manager Thomas Tuchel tasked with leading the Three Lions in their quest for a first World Cup triumph since 1966, Carragher has outlined the 26 players he believes should make the final cut. While certain positions feature near-automatic choices like captain Harry Kane, midfielder Declan Rice, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, the competition for the remaining spots is intensely fierce.
Carragher highlighted that the latter half of the domestic season will be crucial for players on the fringes, as inconsistent club game time could severely impact their international prospects. This rationale directly influenced his decision to omit Arsenal pair Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke from his projected squad.
Forward Line Decisions and Tactical Reasoning
The attacking positions behind talisman Harry Kane are especially congested with elite talent. Carragher's chosen forward line includes Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and Phil Foden, supported by only one other outright striker in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins.
Explaining his thought process, Carragher said: 'Cole Palmer is not a certainty, but he is a wonderful footballer. It is not going well for him at Chelsea with injuries, but remember his performance against PSG in the Club World Cup final. He was out of this world. He has scored in a final [for England, Euro 2024]. He goes.'
He added on the competition: 'For me, Phil Foden goes too. But you couldn’t play them both [Foden and Palmer] in the same team. I think Rashford, and I had a decision… I don’t think the outsiders have done enough. I decided to go with Anthony Gordon – he has been the go-to guy. He needs to add more goals, but him ahead of [Noni] Madueke, who I don’t think will play enough football.'
On selecting Watkins as Kane's deputy over in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Carragher noted: 'I am going to go with Ollie Watkins. [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin is in fantastic form, but Watkins is playing for one of the top teams in the country, did really well at the last tournament, and I don’t think there is much between them.'
Surprising Defensive Selections and Omissions
Perhaps the most unexpected elements of Carragher's squad lie in defence, where he has opted to leave out Manchester City's John Stones and another prospect, while including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw.
On the left-back position, he stated: 'I looked at the left backs and O’Reilly has done brilliant. But it is the glaring position – I am a huge fan of Lewis Hall. I was looking at Lewis-Skelly… I thought he would be playing in this team, but he doesn’t play for Arsenal. I would just go with Lewis Hall and Luke Shaw. He [Shaw] has that experience as well.'
Regarding Alexander-Arnold's inclusion as a versatile option, Carragher explained: 'And I am a big fan of Tino Livramento – he can play both sides – and I would put Trent in there. He would be one of the wildcards, not for the fact he is the right back, but for his quality. I am not thinking he can play right back against a top winger, but I would have him as a wildcard who you can bring off the bench.'
On omitting John Stones, he expressed regret: 'John Stones has been the best English centre-back of this generation and he is so unfortunate with injuries. We have got Livramento in the squad, who struggles with injuries, but he is almost in there as a squad player. With Stones, I feel he has to play enough football. I hope I am wrong.'
He also favoured Trevoh Chalobah over Dan Burn, citing leadership qualities: 'I know Dan Burn is highly thought of, but I am a fan of Chalobah. He has been fantastic for Chelsea – he has emerged as the leader there. Out of those I go with Chalobah, and with the outsiders… I think if Harry Maguire can stay fit and build a partnership with [Lisandro] Martinez [at Manchester United], I would take him before I take Dan Burn. He has the edge in terms of as a player and experience.'
The Full Squad and Upcoming Preparations
Jamie Carragher's complete 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup is as follows:
- Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
- Defenders: Reece James, Lewis Hall, Luke Shaw, Tino Livramento, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Trevoh Chalobah, Harry Maguire
- Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton
- Attackers: Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden
England have just two friendly matches scheduled before the tournament kicks off in June, facing Uruguay and Japan in March. These fixtures will provide Thomas Tuchel with final opportunities to assess his options and make any last-minute adjustments to the squad that will carry the nation's hopes on the global stage.
