England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced a 27-man squad for the opening four matches of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. The squad includes several returning players, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer. Alexander-Arnold, now playing for Real Madrid, returns to the Three Lions fold alongside his club teammate Jude Bellingham. Palmer, a Chelsea forward, is also included after missing the 2026 World Cup squad.
The squad announcement was made on Friday, September 18, ahead of an extended international window running from September 21 to October 6. Tuchel made eight changes to the World Cup squad, with several players returning following the start of the new club season. These players include Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall, Rio Ngumoha, Jarrad Branthwaite, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Alex Scott.
England will begin their Nations League campaign against newly crowned world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26. The Group A3 fixture will kick off at 7:45 pm BST. The match will be played at Wembley Stadium. Tuchel's side will then travel to Prague to face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena on Tuesday, September 29, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45 pm BST.
The Three Lions will remain away from home for their third game of the window when they face Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, October 3. The match at the Stadium HNK Rijeka will kick off at 5 pm BST and will be played behind closed doors following a UEFA sanction. England will conclude the four-match window by hosting Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday, October 6, with the game scheduled for 7:45 pm BST.
The squad will assemble at St George's Park early next week to begin preparations for the four fixtures. The squad includes goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, and James Trafford. Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guéhi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, and Jarell Quansah are also part of the squad.
The midfielders included in the squad are Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, and Alex Scott. Forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Bukayo Saka are also part of the squad.
The four matches are the first of six Nations League group games for England in League A, Group 3. After the October fixtures, they will host Croatia on November 12 before travelling to Spain on November 15. England is looking to make a strong start to the Nations League campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Key points
- Tuchel recalls Alexander-Arnold and Palmer to the England squad.
- England's Nations League campaign begins against Spain on September 26.
- The squad includes several players returning following the start of the new club season.
