In brief
Thomas Tuchel recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold following more than a year out of the squad and brought back Cole Palmer after both missed the World Cup.
The 27-man England squad features 10 alterations from the summer tournament, with omissions including Jordan Henderson, John Stones, and Noni Madueke.
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott received call-ups and could make their senior England debuts.
England opens the campaign against Spain at Wembley on 26 September 2026 before facing Croatia and playing two matches against the Czech Republic.
- 18 JulEngland beats France 6-4 in Miami to take third place at the World Cup
- 18 SeptThomas Tuchel names a 27-man squad with 10 changes for the Nations League
- 26 SeptEngland hosts Spain at Wembley in the opening Nations League fixture
Squad reshuffle and key recalls
England manager Thomas Tuchel announced 10 alterations to his squad on 18 September 2026 for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer earned recalls after missing the 2026 World Cup in North America. The 27-man selection includes potential senior debutants in Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, 18, retained his place following his senior debut against New Zealand in June. Several established players were omitted, including Phil Foden, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Ollie Watkins, and Ivan Toney, while injuries ruled out John Stones, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Reece James, and Djed Spence.
Conditions for Alexander-Arnold and Palmer
Both returning players re-enter the squad under instructions from Tuchel to validate their selections on the pitch. Alexander-Arnold had not been called up since June 2025 and has faced limited minutes at Real Madrid, where manager Jose Mourinho has frequently preferred Denzel Dumfries at right-back.
“He was not with us in the World Cup. We trusted other players, and I still stick with that decision. It is now time to fight for his place. He always said he is up for a fight, so it's on him to prove.”
Palmer returns to international selection after recovering his club form following an injury-affected 2025/26 campaign. His Chelsea output dropped to 14 goal contributions across that season after recording 42 in 2023/24 and 32 in 2024/25. Tuchel explained that Palmer earned his recall because his goals and assists have returned in domestic competition.
- 2023/24
- 42
- 2024/25
- 32
- 2025/26
- 14
Data from the article text
Tactical identity and World Cup reflection
The squad unveiling marked Tuchel's first media appearance since England secured third place at the World Cup with a 6-4 win against France in Miami on 18 July. Tuchel addressed the 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta, where England led 1-0 in the 55th minute before conceding twice late in the match. The manager acknowledged his ongoing tactical debate over whether England should adopt possession-heavy control or play to the aggressive tempo typical of the Premier League.
“I'm just wrestling with myself. Even if you control matches in the Premier League, how many English players are there in these teams that really try to control matches? Is this in our DNA? Do we really value control? Is this something that comes easy to us? Or do we go: 'Yeah, but we're stuck in midfield, we should go, we should attack.'”
Tuchel noted that while he desires short periods where his team can control games like Spain, English players naturally thrive on speed, dribbling, and physicality.
Upcoming Nations League campaign
England begins its Nations League campaign on 26 September against world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium. The team then travels for away fixtures against the Czech Republic and Croatia before hosting the Czech Republic in London during the four-match international window. The final two group matches will conclude the phase in November 2026.