England officially released the details of their 26-man squad for the World Cup on Friday, the 22nd of May. There were plenty of surprises, unless, that is, you’d been paying attention to the news a day earlier, when the squad was essentially announced through the BBC and other media outlets. That was largely based on rumour, nuggets of information and revelations about who had not been included, and turned out to be very accurate.
Harry Maguire made his displeasure known at his exclusion from the squad – as did his mum! It also surprised many that creative trio Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White all missed out. It was anticipated that one or perhaps two would not make it, but for all three to be left disappointed was a shock. In terms of players who did make the cut, the likes of Jordan Henderson, Ivan Toney, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence and Kobbie Mainoo were all players who would have been far from certain of their selection.
As far as Arsenal players went, however, it was very much positive news all round. No Gunners who had high hopes have been left disappointed. On the other hand, there are probably two players who will feel relieved that they have been selected when they could easily not have been. So, which of Arsenal’s title winners will be representing the Three Lions in North America this summer?
2026 FIFA World Cup 🔜
Four of our Gunners have been selected to represent England this summer 👏
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 22, 2026
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is among the first names on the team sheet for both club and country. He has won 48 caps in total, and at the World Cup he will join an elite group of players who have won 50 caps while playing for the Gunners. The three already there are David Seaman, Tony Adams and Ashley Cole, so not a bad group to be joining.
Saka will not turn 25 until the start of next season, but it seems like he has been around forever. He made his debut for the Gunners when still just 17. Just after turning 19, he earned his first senior England cap, and by the following year, 2021, he was established as a regular starter. Indeed, Saka was named the England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2021/22 campaign.
He was the first Arsenal player to land this honour, and since then, he has gone from strength to strength. He won the Player of the Year again the following season, netting seven times in 10 games. Arsenal’s number seven is now a really important player for the Three Lions and a clear starter on the right side of the attack.
His pace, skill and ability to create space for others, as well as win free kicks, are big parts of his game. He also adds goals to an England squad which isn’t particularly rich with them, Harry Kane aside. Saka has now got 14 goals for his country. Aside from (the calendar year) 2024, when he managed just one in 11 games, and his debut campaign when he failed to score in four matches, he has generally been a goal-every-two-or-three-games sort of player for England.
Occasional injuries have made it a little bit of a stop-start season for him with Arsenal. However, that might just help out this summer if Saka can arrive at the World Cup fresher than others. Arsenal and England fans will be hoping to see him cutting in on his left foot and bending one into the corner this summer, a wonderful sight.
Declan Rice
Rice, like Saka, is a fixture for both Arsenal and England and a guaranteed starter if fit. Also like Saka, the former West Ham captain is part of Thomas Tuchel’s leadership group. He is a more vocal and obvious leader than Saka, and his ability to drive his team on to great things could make the difference in North America.
Rice is 27 years old now and very much at the peak of his career. He seems set to play as part of a two-man midfield alongside Elliot Anderson, and together the duo give England a lot of legs. Both are good all-round footballers who are capable of a bit of everything. However, Anderson will be the more defensive of the pair, and that gives Rice a little bit of freedom to use the attacking skills he has increasingly been showing with his club.
He has netted six times for his country now, having won an impressive 72 caps. Four of those goals have come since March 2023, and if he can chip in with a goal or two in the US/Canada/Mexico, he will greatly increase the Three Lions’ chances of a good tournament.
He is undoubtedly one of England’s most important players, and he will help direct and manage the team on the pitch in a way that Kane cannot from his more advanced position. When the chips are down, he can draw on his now-famous “It’s not done” exhortation, and hopefully, he can help end England’s long wait for glory, as he did with Arsenal.
Eberechi Eze
Eze will turn 28 at the World Cup, so he is also in his peak years. He has 16 caps for England and three goals and will probably start on the bench. However, with high temperatures expected and lots of games (hopefully), he could have a key part to play. His skill and creativity could prove crucial to unlock stubborn defences, and if a moment of magic is needed, he is certainly more than capable.
Noni Madueke
Madueke is something of a surprise inclusion, but it seems that Tuchel likes his energy and dynamism. He has impressed in some friendlies when others have let the chance pass them by. He will, however, most probably be used from the bench, although he could challenge for a place as a starter on the left side of attack. He prefers the right, but Saka will start there whenever fit, so Madueke will have to continue to make the most of any chances he gets, in whatever role they come. The 24-year-old has one senior England goal from 10 appearances.