England World Cup draw 2026: Group results, schedule, roster, coach and more to know

England will once again seek to make good on their presumed potential on the global stage at the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions have frequently boasted some of the most famous and talented players in the game but have not won the World Cup for more than half a century.

Captain and all-time top scorer Harry Kane and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham will lead their charge at the 2026 tournament in North America.

AllSportsPeople breaks down England's path at the 2026 World Cup, the national team roster and how the side has performed throughout World Cup history.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Live World Cup draw tracker | Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule

England World Cup draw 

England's group will be determined by Friday's World Cup draw. The Three Lions are one of 12 teams included in Pot 1 of the draw.

Group match schedule

MORE: Which teams are in the World Cup Draw?

England all-time World Cup groups

England have only failed to qualify for the World Cup three times since becoming eligible to compete in 1950. Winners on home soil in 1966, they have only failed to progress from the group stage once since then.

England World Cup snapshot 

England's lofty ranking at No. 4 in the world with FIFA secured a spot in Pot 1 in the 2026 draw.

It's 60 years since the Three Lions' solitary World Cup triumph in 1966. They have also been beaten semifinalists twice, in 1990 and 2018.

• Current FIFA World Ranking: No. 4 (December 2025)
• World Cup titles: 1
• World Cup appearances (last): 16 (Qatar 2022)
• How England qualified, W-L-D: UEFA Group K winners, 8-0-0
• World Cup record:
  • Games: 74 GP (32 W, 22 D, 20 L)
  • Goal differential: +36 (104 GS, 68 GA)

MORE: How does the 2026 World Cup draw work?

England World Cup 2026 preview 

England have put together a consistent run of strong tournament performances over recent years. Gareth Southgate led the Three Lions to the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, where they fell short on penalties against Italy at Wembley before being beaten 2-1 by Spain in Berlin.

England's run to the semifinals at Russia 2018 represented their best performance at the World Cup for almost three decades. It was the first time since 2006 that England had won matches in the knockout stage of a major tournament. Four years later, Southgate's side produced some of their most authoritative performances but lost 2-1 to holders and eventual finalists France in the quarterfinals.

Now under Thomas Tuchel, the hope is that an English generation rich in talent if not defensive depth can take the final step.

• Star Players: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
• Players to Watch: Phil Foden, Elliot Anderson

Who is England head coach?

Thomas Tuchel took over as England head coach in January 2025, having been announced as the new man in charge the previous October, and oversaw an unblemished qualification campaign. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, Tuchel also claimed major honours while head coach of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. 

The 52-year-old is only contracted until the end of the 2026 World Cup and long tenures have not been a feature of his career to date.

• Manager (Nationality): Thomas Tuchel (Germany)
• Date hired: Oct. 16, 2024
• Record as national team manager (W-L-D): 9-1-0.
• Major titles since hire: N/A
• Notable victories: 
  • 5-0 vs. Serbia, World Cup qualifying (Sep. 2025)
  • 5-0 vs. Latvia, World Cup qualifying (Oct. 2025)

England roster at the World Cup 2026

When Southgate led England to the 2018 semifinals, he did so with a squad featuring a smattering of stars carrying few expectations. Eight years on, the Three Lions boast several players operating at the top end of European club football. Unlike previously talent-stacked lineups from the early years of the 21st century, the likes of Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Bellingham have shown they can do their thing on the international tournament stage.

There is not a great depth of defensive options either at centre-back or full-back, while cover for Kane is negligible. Whether or not Bayern Munich hand the England captain over in good form and fitness could make or break England's campaign.

England predicted starting XI (formation: 4-2-3-1)

Pickford (GK)

James, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly

Anderson, Rice

Saka, Bellingham, Gordon

Kane

Strengths: 

• Creative attackers: Despite reported difficulties in his relationship with Tuchel, Bellignham is expected to start as England's No. 10 at the World Cup. The likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers mean Tuchel has an embarrassment of riches in this position, while Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford are wide options who can burst beyond Kane and bring the best out of the Bayern star.

Weaknesses: 

• Defensive depth: Tuchel will cross his fingers that John Stones' fragile fitness can remain in good order heading into the summer. Outside of Stones and Marc Guehi, there is not a great deal of elite central defenders. Meanwhile, Stones' Manchester City team-mate Nico O'Reilly being fast-tracked into the squad at left-back after some excellent performances shows Tuchel is not a great fan of the more experienced options at his disposal. Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton look like they can be the sort of tempo-setting, controlling midfielders England have long missed, but they must come through tournament scrutiny for the first time.

England roster for 2026 World Cup

Below is a projected 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. This will be updated when the squad is officially announced by England closer to the start of the tournament.

*Caps as of Dec. 5, 2025.

England World Cup qualifying results

England dominated their World Cup qualifying pool, finishing top of UEFA Group K with eight wins from eight games, 22 goals scored, and not a single one conceded.

England World Cup history

England's 1966 triumph at Wembley Stadium remains the only time they have won the men's World Cup.

• World Cups appearances: 16
• Best finish:  Winners (1966)
• All-time goals scored: 104
• All-time goals conceded:  68
• All-time record (W-L-D): 32-20-22

*Host