The 2026 FIFA World Cup is only a few weeks away and the world’s joint-oldest national team is making its way to Boston.
The England Men’s National Team is set to play at least one match at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup), facing off with one of Africa’s most decorated teams.
This tournament marks the Three Lions’ eighth straight appearance at soccer’s biggest spectacle and, after “60 years of hurt,” England fans will hope once again that this is the year “football’s coming home.”
With England releasing its 26-man squad list for the World Cup on Friday, May 22, here’s what to know about the Three Lions ahead of kickoff.
Who are the key players?
Leading the way once again for the Three Lions will be captain, all-time top scorer and closing in on becoming his nations all-time most capped player Harry Kane. The veteran striker is coming off a strong club campaign for Bayern Munich, putting up a staggering 61 goals for Die Roten across all competitions. He’ll be joined in an all-around solid attack by recently crowned Premier League champion Bukayo Saka, recently crowned Europa League champion Ollie Watkins, recently crowned La Liga champion Marcus Rashford and Barcelona’s newest signing, Anthony Gordon.
In midfield, look for Jude Bellingham to control the tempo with support from a pair of Premier League winners in Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze. On defense, Marc Guéhi looks set to lead efforts again alongside Reese James and Dan Burn, while in net, expect goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to once again be England’s main man between the sticks.
When is England playing at Boston Stadium?
Old England is set to make just one appearance in New England this summer, facing off against Ghana in its second group stage match on June 23. Regardless of how the Three Lions finish the group stage, they cannot feature in either the Round of 32 or quarterfinal, as neither match will feature a team out of Group L.
Here is England’s complete Group L schedule:
- June 17- England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m. at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)
- June 23- England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m. at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)
- June 27- England vs. Panama, 5 p.m. at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
Where is England training during the World Cup?
The Three Lions will first touch down in Palm Beach, FL on Monday, June 1 for pre-tournament training and friendlies against New Zealand in Tampa on June 6 and Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10. After that, England will be based in Kansas City, MO, training at Sporting Kansas City‘s Swope Soccer Village facility and staying at The Inn at Meadowbrook in nearby Prairie Village, KS.
Wait, what happened to this England player?
If you’re thinking that a few familiar faces from the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 squads are missing, you’re not alone. England manager Thomas Tuchel decided against bringing several Three Lions regulars including Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Morgan Gibbs-White. Instead, the former Chelsea and PSG boss has elected to give World Cup debuts to nine players: James Trafford, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Elliot Anderson, Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers.
When asked about those omissions in a press conference after announcing his squad on Friday, May 22, Tuchel said he was “very confident” in the 26 players he had chosen.
“(There were) very difficult decisions, painful conversations,” Tuchel said. (It was) difficult to explain to the players, but as I said, what we’re trying to achieve, we’re trying to achieve as a team and we try to nominate a balanced squad.”
Maguire, the Manchester United center back who has 66 caps for the Three Lions, expressed his disappointment via X, saying he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision after a solid season for the Red Devils, but that he wished the England players headed to the tournament “all the best.”
How many times has England won the World Cup?
The nation that birthed the beautiful game has captured its ultimate prize just once: in 1966 on home soil. The Three Lions have been to 17 World Cups in total, with the last time England failed to qualify coincidentally having been the last US-hosted tournament in 1994.
England Men’s National Team 2026 FIFA World Cup 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton FC), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea FC), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal FC), Jordan Henderson (Brentford FC), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal FC), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Anthony Gordon (FC Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal FC), Marcus Rashford (FC Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal FC), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: England soccer to play at Boston Stadium in World Cup
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