DON'T MISS THE MATCH
- TV & Streaming Guide: How to watch England vs Panama on Saturday night
- Opposition Scout: Check out the full Panama World Cup squad here
Thomas Tuchel has made his major tournament debut – the Three Lions’ first without Gareth Southgate since Euro 2016 – with huge expectations on his shoulders.
A famously street-wise Croatia team were comfortably dispatched 4-2, but a subborn, organised Ghana team frustrated England and caused them some scares on the counter. Up front, England have an enviable menu of talent to select from, but at the back things aren't are more limited as Tuchel searches for a settled back four.
England were the first European nation to qualify for the World Cup and are one of the favourites – but with several other nations also looking sharp, the Three Lions must put on a convincing display vs Panama who are ranked more than 20 places higher than Ghana in the FIFA World Rankings.
England's squad is strong. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw and Lewis Hall all missed out at full-back, while Harry Maguire didn't make the plan either. Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Conor Gallagher, and Levi Colwill aren't there but Trevoh Chalobah earned a late call up, replacing the injured Tino Livramento.
Ivan Toney was a surprise pick among the forwards, Jordan Henderson makes history playing at a seventh tournament with his country, and faith has been placed in the likes of Dan Burn, Noni Madueke and Jarrel Quansah who are all at their first international tournaments.
Thomas Tuchel – England Manager
If you can’t beat them, hire them. Fed up with being repeatedly dumped out of tournaments by Germany down the years, the FA appointed Bavarian Thomas Tuchel from January 2025. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, the 52-year-old has a reputation as a cunning-if-confrontational winner. Time to prove it.
Mood
That belief has only strengthened following England’s perfect qualifying campaign: eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored, none conceded. The latter statistic makes them the only qualifier to reach the USA, Mexico and Canada without conceding even once – a remarkable statistic, especially given England’s defence is arguably their weakest facet. Jordan Pickford may be jittery when making 15-yard passes around his own box, but a fifth major tournament is proof of the 32-year-old goalkeeper’s No.1 status.
Tuchel’s defining tweak so far has been Elliot Anderson’s emergence as his midfield fulcrum. The Nottingham Forest anchor man made his debut in a 2-0 win against Andorra last September and has since nailed down his spot next to Declan Rice. Anderson’s positional awareness, workrate and tidy passing allow Rice to maraud, which gives the Three Lions greater balance at both ends of the pitch.
Tuchel also appears to have solved the great head scratcher over who to select as England’s No.10 – Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Cole Palmer – by, erm, playing Morgan Rogers instead. The decision may have been initially foisted upon him by injury, but it’s further evidence of Tuchel’s defiant streak and ability to find wily solutions that the former Lincoln loanee seems likely to keep the shirt.
England are once again among the bookies’ favourites to lift the World Cup, despite a yawning 60-year gap since their last major men’s success. Croatia, Ghana and Panama could prove tough assignments in the group stage, especially given the uncomfortable heat and humidity awaiting across the Atlantic. Forget the No.10 issue – the factor 50 is much more relevant.
Semi-finalists in 2018, quarter-finalists in 2022 and twice European runners-up – it really is win or bust this time.
Squad
England World Cup 2026 squad
- GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
- GK: James Trafford (Manchester City)
- DF: Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- DF: Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)
- DF: John Stones (Manchester City)
- DF: Marc Guehi (Manchester City)
- DF: Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)*
- DF: Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
- DF: Reece James (Chelsea)
- DF: Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
- DF: Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
- MF: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- MF: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
- MF: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- MF: Jordan Henderson (Brentford)
- MF: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
- MF: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
- MF: Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
- FW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- FW: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- FW: Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
- FW: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona)
- FW: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- FW: Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
- FW: Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
*Replaced the injured Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
What did Thomas Tuchel say after England's draw vs Ghana?
On not losing belief:
"The boys tried everything and again they played with the right energy. I know it's a very different game and, in this case, if one team tries to play and to run against this deep block and you don't find the spaces, it is difficult for you to create chances... It is not as exciting as two teams trying to win it in a more open game. We always try to entertain our fans. It was difficult today. I hope they don't lose belief. It is a long way to go."
Dismissing the 'wake up' call narrative
"No, we don't need a wake-up call. Everyone is alert, and everyone is fully committed... There was no overconfidence in our game, not at all. If anything, there was maybe in some moments a bit of overcautious play, but we were never overconfident.
"It’s very important that the highs don’t get too high and the lows get not too low, and today anyway is not a low. It’s just a difficult match of football, which can happen any time."
On the reliance on Harry Kane
"I mean, does Argentina rely too heavily on Messi and France rely too heavily on Kylian Mbappé? It's just what it is. To rely on Harry, it's just a natural thing because he loves the responsibility and he takes it... We rely on Harry because we can, because he's our forward, but we don't over-rely on him."
England results and next games
England Fixtures
- June 27, 2026: Panama vs England, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States
- September 26, 2026: England vs Spain, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- September 29, 2026: Czech Republic vs England, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
- October 3, 2026: Croatia vs England, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
- October 6, 2026: England vs Czech Republic, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- November 12, 2026: England vs Croatia, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- November 15, 2026: Spain vs England, Venue TBC, Spain
England's World Cup kick-off times
Date | Round | Fixture | UK Kick-Off Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 17 June | Group Stage | England vs Croatia | 9:00pm |
Tuesday 23 June | Group Stage | England vs Ghana | 9:00pm |
Saturday 27 June | Group Stage | Panama vs England | 10:00pm |
England results
- June 23, 2026: England 0-0 Ghana, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States
- June 17, 2026: England 4-2 Croatia, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
- June 10, 2026: England 3-0 Costa Rica, Inter&Co Stadium Orlando, United States
- June 6, 2026: England 1-0 New Zealand, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States
- March 31, 2026: England 0-1 Japan, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- March 27, 2026: England 1-1 Uruguay, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- November 16, 2025: Albania 0-2 England, Arena Kombetare, Tirana, Albania
- November 13, 2025: England 2-0 Serbia, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- October 14, 2025: Latvia 0-5 England, Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia
- October 9, 2025: England 3-0 Wales, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- September 9, 2025: Serbia 0-5 England, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
- September 6, 2025: England 2-0 Andorra, Villa Park, Birmingham, England
- June 10, 2025: England 1-3 Senegal, City Ground, Nottingham, England
- June 7, 2025: Andorra 0-1 England, RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain
- March 24, 2025: England 3-0 Latvia, City Ground, Nottingham, England
- March 21, 2025: England 2-0 Albania, Wembley Stadium, London, England
Group L standings
England are in Group L at World Cup 2026.
England's star player
Harry Kane
The England skipper finally got his hands on the first trophy of his career last season, helping Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title with a superb 26 goals and 10 assists in 31 league appearances.
Kane, who is ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best strikers in the world right now, has a massive part to play for England as he looks to tick off another major career milestone at next year's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
With 112 caps and 78 goals to his name already for the Three Lions, and will be hoping to boost both tallies as Tuchel's side aim for their first World Cup triumph since 1966.
Most likely to happen
Get completely carried away following a win over opening group-stage opponents Croatia in Texas. Flare, meet rectum – this time, it’s definitely coming home.
Least likely to happen
Get arrested. Not a single England fan was banged up in Qatar, prompting cheap jokes from FIFA impresario Gianni Infantino, whose grovelling apology was deliciously withering.
What they hope will happen
An honorary knighthood for confirmed Anglophile Tuchel after a nail-biting, penalty shootout win over his birth nation in New Jersey’s final.
What will happen
Three skied penalties in a tearful semi-final shootout exit. Tuchel replaced by an English manager after a national inquiry.
Predicted Starting XI vs Panama
England Predicted XI vs Panama (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane
Panama predicted XI
(5-4-1) Mosquera; Murillo, Ramos, Córdoba, Andrade, Blackman; Rodríguez, Martínez, Harvey, Bárcenas; Fajardo
England vs Panama Prediction
Following a flat, frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana, Thomas Tuchel will demand a reaction from his players to secure top spot in Group L. Panama has already been eliminated after two tight 1-0 defeats, meaning they are playing purely for pride. While they are a more disciplined defensive unit than the team England famously routed 6-1 in 2018, the gulf in quality is just too wide.
Tuchel will likely demand a more aggressive approach to avoid another dull stalemate against a low block. Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham will be tasked with injecting pace and verticality to break down Panama's predicted five-man defence.
Harry Kane rarely stays quiet for long. After missing a close-range chance late in the Ghana game, he'll be desperate to get back on the scoresheet and keep up with Mbappe, Haaland and Messi in the race for the Golden Boot — especially against an opponent he scored a hat-trick against in Russia.
FourFourTwo's score prediction: England 3-0 Panama, Harry Kane to score twice.
