England manager Thomas Tuchel has named a 35-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, using the matches as a final assessment ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire headline the returns to the national team.
The friendlies at Wembley are expected to play a key role in shaping England’s final World Cup squad, with Tuchel opting for a larger group to test combinations and manage the workload.
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After announcing the group, Tuchel explained why the group split into phases.
“We decided to split it basically into two camps almost. We’re bringing in players we haven’t seen and haven’t played much to open up the picture, to open up the competition for tickets to the USA,” Tuchel said.
He added that the second batch of players will join later in the rotation camp.
“And then from Friday/Saturday, a group will come into camp – 10 or 11 players – who will rest beforehand – and we will go with a new group of players, a new mix of players for the game against Japan,” he added.
THE RETURN OF MAINOO AND MAGUIRE
Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have been recalled following Manchester United’s recent revival under interim manager Michael Carrick. Both players have been absent from the national squad since England’s 2–0 win over the Republic of Ireland in September 2024, with inconsistent club form and managerial changes affecting their international prospects.
United’s form has improved significantly since January. Maguire has re-established himself as a reliable figure in defence, while Mainoo has grown into a key midfield role, showing maturity and control. Their regular starts this term earned them renewed confidence from both club and country.
Tuchel’s decision to include them in the squad reflects not only their improved performances but also a strategic move to expand the squad ahead of the World Cup. Their return signals a shift in plans as England prepare for the tournament.
THE BIG NAMES WERE MISSING
Despite the expanded squad, several notable players were left out. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid’s right-back, was ruled out despite an injury to Reece James. Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins also misses out due to a dip in form. Luke Shaw is another absentee in the group.
The squad structure is designed for rotation, with just 24 players for the first friendly against Uruguay and a different set joining for the match against Japan. This approach aims to manage player fitness at the end of a demanding club season.
New additions outside the Manchester United duo include Newcastle defender Lewis Hall and Everton midfielder James Garner, who earned his first senior call-up. Dominic Calvert-Lewin returns to the squad for the first time since September 2021 alongside Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke as Tuchel experiments with attacking options.
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele has also been included, with hints that he may travel to the World Cup as a training goalkeeper. The squad announcement highlights England’s intention to assess depth and flexibility ahead of the tournament.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
March 20, 2026 5:39 PM IST
