At Wembley, where England will return to action against world champions Spain on 26 September, Thomas Tuchel has reopened the door for two of the most debated absentees from the 2026 World Cup. Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold are back in a 27-man squad for the opening four matches of the Nations League campaign.
The call-up is England’s first since their third-place finish at the World Cup, a tournament in which the team’s supporters and players made Oasis’s 1990s hit “Wonderwall” a familiar soundtrack. Tuchel had omitted both Palmer and Alexander-Arnold from his 26-player World Cup party, decisions that drew considerable attention at home.
Alexander-Arnold returns after more than a year away from the international side. The Real Madrid defender has not represented England since June 2025. Palmer, meanwhile, has earned another opportunity following a productive opening to Chelsea’s season, with four goals and two assists.
Phil Foden remains outside the group. The Manchester City player also missed the World Cup and has not been restored for the September and October fixtures.
New faces in Tuchel’s reshaped group
Tuchel has made 10 changes from the squad that travelled to the World Cup. Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott are included as they seek their first senior England appearances.
Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, the 18-year-old forward, is another fresh selection. The squad also includes a number of players with major European club commitments, including Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Several World Cup squad members are unavailable through injury: Dean Henderson, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, John Stones and Jordan Henderson. Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have also not been selected.
Spain first in Wembley sequence
England begin their Nations League schedule with the visit of Spain at Wembley on 26 September. They then travel to face the Czech Republic on 29 September, meet Croatia away on 3 October, and conclude the four-match run with another Wembley meeting against the Czech side on 6 October.
England squad for the Nations League
- Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford.
- Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guéhi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah.
- Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott.
- Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka.
