Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane leads England’s roster for the 2026 World Cup. File Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
England teamed up with one of the greatest bands in history to unveil their 2026 World Cup roster Friday with a Beatles-themed video announcement of the 26-man squad.
The Three Lions posted the 2-minute, 28-second video on social media. The footage, which starts with an old interview with John Lennon, features the 1989 hit “Come Together.”
The announcement, filmed in New York, shows players’ names in a video produced in Beatles-style, with bright colors and cartoon images of lions, submarine and more.
“It is truly exciting and a great privilege to be able to name an England squad for the World Cup,” Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel said in a news release.
“It has been a tough process to decide on the nomination, but I have full belief in this group of players. They all deserve their place. The squad and everyone involved with the team will give all we can to make the country proud. We know they are behind us and we hope for a very special summer.”
Captain Harry Kane leads the English roster, which includes fellow forwards Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins.
Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo and Morgan Rogers were the midfielders picked for the squad. Reece James, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ting Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah and Djed Spence are England’s defenders.
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford were the goalies picked for England’s World Cup squad.
England, the No. 4 team in the FIFA world rankings, has the third-best odds to win the World Cup, behind No. 2 Spain and top-ranked France, according to most sports books. The Three Lions will play No. 85 New Zealand in a friendly June 6 in Tampa, Fla. They will face No. 51 Costa Rica in their final pre-tournament friendly June 10 in Orlando, Fla.
The Three Lions, who advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2022 World Cup, will start play at the 2026 World Cup with a Group L meeting with No. 11 Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Texas.
The 1966 World Cup champions advanced past the quarterfinals just once since 1990.
England will report June 1 to a camp in Palm Beach County, Fla. The Three Lions will follow the two friendlies with preparations at a permanent tournament base in Kansas City, Mo.
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Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Final win — its third tournament trophy — at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar, on December 18, 2022. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
