Serbia vs. England lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, rosters, match details for 2026 World Cup qualifier

Feargal Brennan

Serbia vs. England lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, rosters, match details for 2026 World Cup qualifier image

England head to Serbia on September 9 for a potentially vital 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Thomas Tuchel's side made it four wins from four qualifiers over the weekend as they edged out a 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park.

Despite maintaining a 100% record in qualifiers under the German coach, the team have come in for criticism following another lacklustre display against a minnow.

This trip to Belgrade could decide who finishes top of of Group K with Serbia unbeaten in their three qualifiers in 2025.

Dragan Stojkovic's team started qualification later than England, but they sit in second place, with seven points from three games.

MORE: Updated list of teams qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Serbia vs. England lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, rosters

Captain Aleksandar Mitrovic was left on the bench as Dusan Vlahovic started as a lone centre-forward. The Juventus man scored the winner against Latvia last weekend.

Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic took the armband in Mitrovic's absence.

Serbia starting lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): Petrovic (GK) — Pavlovic, Milenkovic, Erakovic  — Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Maksimovic, Birmancevic  — Zivkovic, Illic — Vlahovic

Serbia full roster

Goalkeepers: Dorde Petrovic, Dragan Rosic, Veljko Ilic

Defenders: Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Milos Veljkovic, Strahinja Erakovic, Aleksa Terzic, Srdan Babic, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Nemanja Stojic

Midfielders: Nemanja Gudelj, Filip Kostic, Saka Lukic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Andrija Zivkovic, Ivan Ilic, Lazar Samardzic, Uros Racic, Veljko Birmancevic, Aleksandar Katai, Ognjen Ugresic

Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Luka Jovic, Nikola Stulic.


Tuchel named a strong side to start against Andorra and made four changes for the assignment in Belgrade.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was left out of the travelling squad, with England only permitted to take 23 players to Belgrade.

Harry Kane starts the match and Marc Guehi is in the XI despite suffering a minor injury against Andorra.

Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon come in for Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze, while Tino Livramento and Ezri Konsa complete the back four alongside Guehi and Reece James.

England starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Pickford (GK) — James, Guehi, Konsa Livramento — Anderson, Rice — Madueke, Rogers, Gordon — Kane

England full roster

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konza, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson

Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke.

Serbia vs. England match details

  • Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 
  • Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT / 4:45 a.m. AEST (Sep. 10)
  • Location: Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade (Serbia)
  • Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
  • Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)

Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.