Thomas Tuchel announced his first England squad this morning after officially becoming manager of the Three Lions in January.
England’s new era begins next week with a Wembley double-header of World Cup qualifiers, as Albania and Latvia visit in the space of four days. Tuchel has been charged by the FA with delivering England men’s first major trophy since 1966, after signing an 18-month contract which ends after the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.
And as he looks to get up and running, he has handed midfielder Jordan Henderson a surprise recall while also including the uncapped pair of Dan Burn and teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly in defence, and Marcus Rashford among the forward options – amid the latter’s improved form since leaving Manchester United.
Tuchel had been in contact with a large pool of players over recent weeks and compiled a 55-man shortlist before naming his squad. Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri was thought to be in contention alongside clubmate Lewis-Skelly, as were Nottingham Forest pair Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi, but none of those three were named.
Follow live updates from England’s squad announcement and Tuchel’s press conference below.
England squad announcement
- Thomas Tuchel names first squad since becoming England manager
- German coach recalls Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford after Southgate axe
- Uncapped duo Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly earn first call-ups to senior squad
- Ben White would 'love' to play for England, says Thomas Tuchel
- Tuchel says Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly can 'handle the heat'
- England host Albania and Latvia (21 & 24 March) in 2026 World Cup qualifying
England squad by numbers
12:08 , Lawrence OstlereRecalls for Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford mean six of Tuchel's 26-man squad have 60 or more caps (Harry Kane 103, Kyle Walker 93, Henderson 81, Jordan Pickford 73, Declan Rice 62, Rashford 60).
Tuchel opts for experience over youth with first England squad
12:08 , Lawrence OstlereThomas Tuchel's first England squad features new call-ups and a couple of high-profile recalls – leading to an all-or-nothing profile in terms of experience.
Ben White would 'love' to play for England, says Thomas Tuchel
11:47 , Lawrence OstlereBen White would “love” to play for England but isn’t yet ready after only recently recovering from injury.
Full story:
Thomas Tuchel reveals Arsenal defender Ben White’s new stance on England
Tuchel's press conference ends
11:40 , Lawrence OstlereAnd that concludes Thomas Tuchel’s press conference. He spoke in detail about his decisions to call up Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford, and explained his reasoning behind selecting youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
He also made clear that he wants to keep England’s tactical approach simple, to make it as easy as possible for the mix of different players from different clubs to come together in the same team.
Tuchel: 'I don't listen to outside noise on England job'
11:33 , Lawrence Ostlere“I try to be offline when it comes to opinions and judgements about the work we do. I put everything into it, together with my staff.”
Tuchel: 'Prince William discussed the squad with me'
11:29 , Lawrence Ostlere“Prince William was pushing hard for Aston Villa players to be included! It was not needed because we admire them a lot.”
Tuchel: 'We will not reinvent football – less is more'
11:27 , Lawrence Ostlere“We called up nine defenders to have options and get to know players. I don’t want to give away whether we play a back four or back five. I think we have a lot of options. We chose some players because they can play a lot of positions. I think the challenge is then combine different ideas, because they come from so many different clubs, into one idea.
“Maybe, more than ever, less is more. We will not reinvent football. We need to find a structure, an identity, that everyone understands quickly, that gives everyone freedom to express themselves.”
Tuchel: 'I want to create a club mentality'
11:25 , Lawrence Ostlere“Playing style is just one piece of the puzzle. It has to suit the players, it has to suit the league where the majority play in. This is what we try to do.
“We will inject a bit of club football into federation football. It starts maybe with the language, and the coaching. We need to increase the rhythm and intensity of our game compared to our last matches. This is where the focus is. Hopefully it is an exciting watch.”
Tuchel: 'Lewis-Skelly can handle the heat'
11:19 , Lawrence Ostlere“He can handle the pressure. He makes himself available. He proves the point on a weekly basis. He is available three times a week in one of the best teams in Europe. He can handle the heat.”
Tuchel: 'Ben White wants to play for England'
11:17 , Lawrence Ostlere“Absolutely not [asked if White turned down a call-up]. He would love to be back, it’s just a bit too early to be back for him given the serious injury that he had. We are monitoring the progess. Now it’s just a question of getting back – he wants to be back.”
Tuchel: 'We took parental vibe with Lewis-Skelly call-up'
11:11 , Lawrence Ostlere“I am always impressed with Myles. He plays for the second best team in the country at the moment. Mikel Arteta picks him regularly so this was very impressive from the very start.
I can understand if it looks like we fast-forward a career already on fast-forward. I can assure you that the talks we have had had a parental vibe, a protective vibe. We thought about, is it our responsibility to not take him? But in the end with injuries [at left-back], and with the maturity, we decided to take him.”
Tuchel: 'We want to push Rashford'
11:09“With Marcus, he had a huge impact at Aston Villa. He made impact mostly from the bench. Impressive, and most importantly his work rate, his defensive impact, his hard work in counter-pressing, tracking back. I had a strong feeling that we should bring him in to push him to stay on that level, to not fall back in old way.”
Tuchel: 'Jordan Henderson embodies what we want to build'
11:08 , Lawrence Ostlere“Why Jordan? Easy one. Serial winner, captain of Ajax, always available, played a lot of matches, played in the European Cup. He brings leadership, character, personality, energy. He makes sure everyone lives by the standards. He embodies everything we try to build.”
Tuchel: 'Everyone is a contender for World Cup'
11:06 , Lawrence Ostlere“Yes of course, everyone with us on this journey is a contender for the World Cup.
“It’s only the first step. The nomination is not the nomination for America. We had some tough discussions. We waited a very long until Champions League games were over. It is important to be in the first camp.”
Thomas Tuchel set to speak to the media
10:59 , Lawrence OstlereHere we go then – Thomas Tuchel should be stepping out in front of the English football media any moment.
He can expect some probing questions on this initial squad, particularly over why he has brought back some old faces and why he has eschewed in-form players like Morgan Gibbs-White.
A fresh start for Ben White and England? Seemingly not...
10:52When Gareth Southgate left his role as England coach, a big question around future squads involved Ben White.
The Arsenal defender made himself unavailable for selection under Southgate, and some fans have wondered whether Tuchel would make a point of trying to get White back in the fold.
As of right now, though, White’s England absence goes on.
Should Wharton or Gallagher have been picked over Henderson?
10:42 , Alex PattleAs mentioned below, some feel Adam Wharton would have been a better, fresher choice than Jordan Henderson in midfield, while Conor Gallagher might also feel unlucky not to have got a look in – especially after his goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League this week.
That’s not to say one goal alone should have made the difference, but it was a timely strike from Gallagher in more ways than one, despite Atletico’s eventual, dramatic exit on penalties.
Is Morgan Gibbs-White the biggest exclusion from this squad?
10:34 , Alex PattleIt’s safe to say there’s been a bit of backlash to Tuchel’s choices in his first England squad...
Morgan Gibbs-White is seen as perhaps the most surprising exclusion, but Adam Wharton’s name keeps popping up on social media, too.
No Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White, Liam Delap or Jarrad Branthwaite in the England squad?
— Tony Scott (@Tony_Scott11) March 14, 2025
Reece James, Kyle Walker, Jarell Quansah, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson all in!! 🤔🥴
Has Tuchel not been watching Premier League games this season?
Alexander-Arnold facing long spell out of action
10:23 , Lawrence OstlereOne player who missed out on the squad is the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool defender is facing an extended spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury but head coach Arne Slot insists he will be back before the end of the season.
The 26-year-old was injured in the second half of the Champions League exit to Paris St Germain on Tuesday and his absence leaves Slot without a recognised right-back for Sunday's Carabao Cup final as Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are still recovering from injuries.
"Trent is not available. He will not be there at the final," said Slot. "But he is still to be assessed for how long it will take but we do expect him back before the end of the season."
Reece James, Kyle Walker and Tino Livramento are the options at right-back in Tuchel’s current squad.
Story: Henderson given shock recall as Tuchel names first England squad
10:09 , Lawrence OstlereJordan Henderson has been given a shock recall to the England squad as new boss Thomas Tuchel brings the veteran midfielder back into the international picture.
Tuchel’s first squad naming since taking the role contains a number of surprise selections, with Marcus Rashford also back amongst things after producing impressive form since a loan move to Aston Villa.
Full story:
Jordan Henderson given shock recall as Thomas Tuchel names first England squad
Tuchel to give press conference
10:00 , Lawrence OstlereThomas Tuchel will face the media at 11am GMT, so we will hear much more about his choices and why he has opted to recall Henderson and Rashford.
Premier League's 2024/25 stars miss out
09:52 , Lawrence OstlereTuchel had been in contact with a large pool of players over recent weeks and compiled a 55-man shortlist before naming his squad. Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri was thought to be in contention, as were Nottingham Forest pair Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi, but none of those three were named.
Gibbs-White perhaps the biggest surprise of that group, but Curtis Jones, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers have been picked ahead of him.
Who went to Euro 2024?
09:49 , Lawrence OstlereFourteen of the 26 players in Tuchel’s squad were at Euro 2024.
Pickford, Ramsdale, D Henderson; Walker, Guehi, Konsa; Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Palmer; Kane, Bowen, Gordon, Eze.
All got gametime at the Euros except for the back-up goalkeepers Ramsdale and Henderson.
Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad
09:40 , Lawrence OstlereA full run down of Tuchel’s first England squad:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham).
Analysis: Tuchel opts for experience over youth
09:35 , Lawrence OstlereAnd there are five players in their 30s: Jordan Pickford (31), Dan Burn (32), Kyle Walker (34), Jordan Henderson (34) and Harry Kane (31).
Analysis: Tuchel opts for experience over youth
09:32There are places for James Trafford (22), Tino Livramento (22), Levi Colwill (22), Jarell Quansah (22), Morgan Rogers (22) and Cole Palmer (22), but everyone else in the squad is at least 24.
Analysis: Tuchel opts for experience over youth
09:28 , Lawrence OstlereEngland fans hoping Thomas Tuchel would inject some youthful energy into his England squad might be disappointed this morning, as the German coach opted for experience over promise.
There are some young talents in the squad, with Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly the most obvious new recruit, but he and Jude Bellingham are the only players aged 21 or younger.
Tuchel names first England squad – summary
09:20New boss Thomas Tuchel has named uncapped defenders Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn in his first England squad and handed recalls to Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.
Gareth Southgate's permanent successor has selected 26 players for this month's World Cup qualifiers at Wembley against Albania and Latvia.
Tuchel has been using a 55-man long list and the England boss has rewarded Arsenal left-back Lewis-Skelly, 18, for his impressive performances since making his senior bow in September.
Towering Newcastle defender Burn is the most surprising name in Tuchel's squad having received his first call-up at the age of 32.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford are the other uncapped players involved, but have previously been selected by the senior team.
Rashford returns to the international set-up having made a promising start to life on loan at Aston Villa after being sidelined at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old was omitted from Southgate's Euros squad last summer and the Nations League campaign overseen by interim boss Lee Carsley, as was veteran Ajax midfielder Henderson who also returns to the fold.
Four uncapped players called up
09:14Tuchel has selected four uncapped players, with two at left-back: Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The others are Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, though both have been called up to senior squads before.
Marcus Rashford returns to England fold
09:09 , Lawrence OstlereMarcus Rashford is another who has been called back into the fold, while Kyle Walker is also in the squad.
It is an experienced group, which perhaps reflects Tuchel’s situation: a short-term contract focused entirely on winning World Cup 2026. There is not a lot of space for youngsters.
Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad
09:07 , Lawrence OstlereGoalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford.
Defenders: Dan Burn, Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers.
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Dominic Solanke.
Jordan Henderson is back
09:06 , Lawrence OstlereSo Thomas Tuchel has named a 26-man squad, and one of the headlines is that Jordan Henderson is back. That’s quite a surprise.
England squad confirmed!
09:00 , Lawrence OstlereHere it is, Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad:
Tuchel set to announce England squad
08:53 , Lawrence OstlereThe Football Association has not announced exactly when Tuchel’s first England squad will be revealed, but we are expecting news very soon this morning so stay with us.
Rashford pushing case for England re-call
08:48 , Lawrence OstlereMeanwhile, Marcus Rashford - who won the last of his 60 England caps last March - continues to show flashes of quality since joining Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United. Could he be back in the fold?
Read more:
How Marcus Rashford has left Thomas Tuchel almost no choice around England recall
England squad announcement – live
08:36 , Lawrence OstlereTuchel has been talking with players on his 55-strong list of options ahead of Friday's selection.
There are a number of headaches to contend with, including injuries to long-serving centre-backs Harry Maguire and John Stones as well as Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo and Noni Madueke.
Trent Alexander-Arnold limped out of Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris St Germain on Tuesday, while Ben White is an interesting case having previously ruled himself out of international selection.
Lewis Hall's season-ending injury compounds the ongoing absence of Luke Shaw at left-back, with uncapped duo Myles Lewis-Skelly and Djed Spence options along with Tyrick Mitchell.
Ethan Nwaneri, Liam Delap and Elliot Anderson are other uncapped talents knocking on the door, while Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer and Kyle Walker are among those whose performances are under scrutiny.
Rooney hoping Tuchel can deliver World Cup
08:21 , Lawrence OstlereAsked if Tuchel can follow Sir Alf Ramsey's 1966 heroes into the history books, Rooney told the PA news agency: "I hope so and I think his record is fantastic. He's won the best trophies out there.
"When (Fabio) Capello came in - obviously I had Sven (Goran Eriksson) who was a foreign manager as well - I was really excited to work under Fabio and it didn't quite go the way I would have liked it to or hoped.
"I didn't really enjoy that time under Fabio, but I'm sure there's players in that dressing now who see Thomas Tuchel come in as a winner.
"We all hope that he can be the one to progress England forward and take us that next step."
Rooney hoping Tuchel can deliver World Cup
08:05 , Lawrence OstlereFormer England captain Wayne Rooney hopes Thomas Tuchel can take his fantastic record on to the international stage as the new manager prepares to name his first squad on Friday.
The ex-Chelsea boss begins life as manager of the back-to-back Euro runners-up with a March double-header.
Tuchel was named Gareth Southgate's permanent successor in October and has been getting his feet under the table since his 18-month contract with the Football Association began on New Year's Day.
The 51-year-old will name his first squad on Friday morning before facing the media at Wembley, where they host Albania on March 21 and Latvia three days later as World Cup qualification gets under way.
Tuchel has been charged with taking England that final step at next summer's World Cup and Rooney, the nation's most-capped outfield men's player, is hoping he can reproduce his previous successes.
Nuno encourages Tuchel to explore Forest
07:49 , Lawrence OstlereGibbs-White is a strong contender to be in the squad considering he was part of the set-up before Christmas but call-ups for Hudson-Odoi and Anderson could be less likely.
"I think we have a lot of English players that are options for the English squad, Elliot is among those," Nuno added.
"I still believe he has the ability to be versatile and play in different positions.
"It has been proven with his age, it only can make him better for the future, being able to play more than one position on the pitch.
"It is a thing a squad needs in its players and Elliot can do that."
On Hudson-Odoi, Nuno added: "A lot of aspects in this game have been improving. He is versatile to both wings, he has been adaptable and really performing well.
"His defensive tasks are always there. I believe there are a lot of things he can do better in terms of assists and goals, they are always things you want to improve."
Nuno encourages Tuchel to explore Forest
07:37 , Lawrence OstlereNuno Espirito Santo says England manager Thomas Tuchel does not need to look much further than his Nottingham Forest squad for possible options.
Tuchel will name a 26-man squad on Friday for his first games since taking over from Gareth Southgate.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elliot Anderson have all been key players in Forest's incredible season which sees them among the favourites to earn Champions League qualification while Ryan Yates is having an impressive campaign.
The German has been spotted watching several Forest games since he started in January, while his assistant Anthony Barry was at the City Ground to watch the 1-0 win over Manchester City which saw Gibbs-White set up Hudson-Odoi.
"Let's wait and see what Thomas does. I hope he takes everyone he wants to take, there are a lot of English players in our squad," Nuno said.
England's World Cup qualifying group
07:20 , Lawrence OstlereEngland play their first game under Tuchel against Albania on Friday 21 March, in their opening fixture of their World Cup qualifying campaign. It will be followed by another Wembley date against Latvia on Monday 24 March.
England have been drawn in Group K of World Cup qualifiers and will also play Serbia and Andorra. Only the top team in the group qualifies automatically for the 2026 World Cup finals, with the runner-up going through to the play-offs.
Picking Thomas Tuchel's first England squad
07:07 , Lawrence OstlereTuchel’s first England squad could be the most eagerly-anticipated announcement for years; perhaps the most unpredictable, too, given, while Gareth Southgate had the occasional tendency to surprise and axe big names, many of his selections were familiar and Lee Carsley borrowed heavily from his Under-21 team.
Senior football correspondent Richard Jolly runs through the options here.
Predicting Tuchel’s first England squad – including five new faces and two recalls
England squad announcement – live
06:58 , Lawrence OstlereEngland begin a new era under Thomas Tuchel as the new manager prepares to name his first squad ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifying.
Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract through to the 2026 World Cup and the Three Lions begin that journey with fixtures against Albania and Latvia this month.
Tuchel, who officially took over on January 1, has been considering his first squad, speaking to a huge number of players and compiling a longlist of 55 potential options.
Could Arsenal teeangers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly be among them? Or could in-form Nottingham Forest pair Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi make the cut?
Tuchel could also offer a return to Marcus Rashford, who is enjoying life on loan Aston Villa, as the German begins to shape his new-look England side.
England squad announcement – live
Thursday 13 March 2025 14:13 , Lawrence OstlereGood morning and welcome along to our rolling news coverage as we bring you Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad since officially becoming manager in January.
Who has made the cut and who has been cut adrift? All will be revealed this morning as England’s new era begins.
