With the World Cup just days away, England manager Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man squad – and two stories have dominated the build-up: Marcus Rashford's revival after a year out, and the surprise emergence of teenage Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, who made his England debut but won't be going to the tournament.
The basics are straightforward. England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June 2026. Before that, they play a friendly against Costa Rica as a final warm-up. Tuchel has selected a squad that includes Marcus Rashford, who was left out of Euro 2024 and didn't play for England for 12 months between March 2024 and 2025. A loan spell at Barcelona – where he scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists in 47 games for the La Liga champions – has revitalised the 28-year-old Manchester United forward. Former England winger Theo Walcott called Rashford “a dead cert to start”, saying on The Wayne Rooney Show: “He would be a dead cert to start for me. The way he's played, that freedom, that enjoyment. We want to see that smile.” Walcott added that Rashford is the player he's “most psyched about” at the tournament.
“Explains the key England World Cup 2026 squad stories: Rashford's return, Ngumoha's debut and exclusion, and what it means for fans.”
But another story has stirred debate. Rio Ngumoha, a 17-year-old Liverpool winger, was called up to the squad for the warm-up matches but has not been included in the final 26 for the World Cup. Ngumoha made his England debut off the bench in a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand, where he was named Player of the Match. He has made 29 appearances for Liverpool this season, though only nine as a starter. Speaking on talkSport, Liverpool legend John Barnes warned against rushing him: “Leave him alone and let him develop... He's not even playing for Liverpool, he's a sub for Liverpool, so until he gets into the team consistently and plays well don't put the pressure on him.” Barnes cited Theo Walcott going to the World Cup at 16 as a cautionary tale. Even if injuries strike, Ngumoha cannot be called up: under World Cup regulations, injury replacements must come from a provisional 55-man squad submitted to FIFA, and Ngumoha was not on that list.
Why does this matter for UK readers? The England squad is the centrepiece of national sporting attention for weeks. Rashford's return from exile and Ngumoha's rapid rise – and subsequent exclusion – highlight the fine line between giving youth a chance and protecting them from pressure. For fans, the debate around who should start, and how young players are handled, is as much a part of the tournament as the football itself. Walcott's endorsement of Rashford and Barnes's plea for patience reflect two sides of a perennial English football argument: experience vs. potential, redemption vs. caution.
Q: Will Marcus Rashford start for England at the World Cup? Theo Walcott believes Rashford is a “dead cert to start”. Manager Thomas Tuchel has started him in a friendly and said there were “no hidden messages” in his line-up, suggesting Rashford is firmly in his plans.
Q: Why isn't Rio Ngumoha in the World Cup squad? Ngumoha was not included on England's provisional 55-man squad submitted to FIFA, so he cannot be added as an injury replacement. John Barnes and others argue he should focus on becoming a regular at Liverpool before international expectations grow.
Q: What are England's World Cup group stage fixtures? England open against Croatia on 17 June 2026. Their preparation includes a friendly against Costa Rica. The full group schedule is not detailed in the sources, but the tournament kicks off shortly before that date.
What happens next: England's final friendly against Costa Rica will be the last chance for Tuchel to test his lineup. The club future of Rashford remains uncertain – Barcelona have a deadline of 15 June to activate a £26m permanent transfer clause from Manchester United. Ngumoha will return to Liverpool, where he is expected to continue his development under Arne Slot.