Marcus Rashford has earned a sensational return to Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad ahead of March’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games against Albania and Latvia.
The 27-year-old had been frozen out of the Three Lions squad since June 2024 owing to his unimpressive spell at Manchester United. His last involvement with England came in a friendly game against Belgium in March 2024 where he was an unused sub.
However, his inspiring showing at Aston Villa this season which has seen him register 4 assists in 9 appearances has not gone unnoticed by Thomas Tuchel who named him in his maiden squad list as manager of the Three Lions.
Rashford is joined in Tuchel’s 26-man squad by Aston Villa teammate Morgan Rogers ahead of two crucial World Cup qualifying fixtures against Albania and Latvia.
Ajax midfielder and former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson also earns a re-call to the Three Lions setup while Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly receives his first national team call-up following impressive outings for the Gunners this term.
Manchester City forward Jack Grealish and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, two players who featured regularly under former England boss Gareth Southgate, stand out as the most notable omissions from the latest squad list.
Also missing is Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri who has been tipped by many to become a key player for the England national team especially after seeing his impact in Mikel Arteta’s front line despite Bukayo Saka’s absence.
England play Albania on Friday, March 21 at Wembley before taking on Latvia three days later. These opponents will be the first of four that the Three Lions must overcome in order to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Full squad list
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), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham).
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
