England is headed to World Cup 2026, set to compete in Group L, with high expectations of making a deep run. The Three Lions are heavy favorites to top their group and may enter both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 as favorites based on the bracket.
Below, we’ll break down England’s projected starting lineup, best players, group outlook, strengths and weaknesses, and top World Cup picks on PrizePicks.
Over on PrizePicks Team Picks, you can make a prediction on how national teams will perform in the 2026 World Cup, including tournament winner, group winner, and knockout-stage advancement markets.
Make England World Cup predictions on PrizePicks and earn $$$ if you’re right!
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England Projected Starting Lineup for World Cup 2026
England enters the tournament without several high-profile names, including Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Manager Thomas Tuchel opted for players he felt offered greater versatility and improved the squad's tactical balance.
Projected England Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
- Defense: Reece James, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly
- Midfield: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham
- Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon
The England World Cup XI could change based on form, injuries, and matchups, but England’s core is built around versatility, with players who can drop back or play higher up depending on the opponent.
Even the attacking players are expected to drop into midfield at times, helping to beat the press and move the ball quickly to overlapping fullbacks and wingers.
How England Qualified for World Cup 2026
England qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a dominant campaign in UEFA qualifying Group K. The Three Lions won all eight matches in a group featuring Albania, Andorra, Latvia, and Serbia without conceding a single goal.
Best Player for England: Harry Kane
Harry Kane arrives at his third World Cup firmly established as England's best player. A case could be made that Kane has been England's standout performer at each of his three World Cup appearances.
Kane arrives fresh off the best season of his career at Bayern Munich. The Englishman scored a career-high 61 goals across all competitions, the most of any player in Europe this past season.
Can Kane add to his all-time England scoring record or claim his second World Cup Golden Boot this summer?
What to Expect From England at the World Cup
FIFA World Ranking: #4
England's Best World Cup Result: 1966 World Cup Champions
Despite his controversial squad selection, Tuchel and England look well-positioned for a deep run. Tuchel’s patented fluid system gives almost every player on the pitch a chance to influence the game when England is in possession.
Big contributions could be due for fullbacks Nico O'Reilly and Reece James, who will push forward on either flank and drift into the midfield, delivering crosses and looking for shots from distance.
England Picks for 2026 World Cup
Here are some England picks on PrizePicks for the 2026 World Cup. Check out more of our soccer picks and predictions on Playbook.
The World Cup payouts listed below indicate real-money earnings if a prediction is correct; for example, a 2x on a $100 entry pays out $200 on PrizePicks Team Picks. Payouts are live as of writing but are subject to change.
England to Win 2026 World Cup
Yes 7.14x | No 1.07x
England is considered one of the favorites, tied with Portugal for the third-lowest payout to win the 2026 World Cup on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Depending on how England performs in the group stage, Tuchel's side could find themselves on a nice path deep into the knockout rounds.
Pick England to win the World Cup on PrizePicks.
England to Win World Cup Group L
Yes 1.38x | No 2.85x
The Three Lions are the heavy favorites to come out on top of Group L. They open against the group's stiffest test in Croatia before facing Ghana and Panama on matchdays two and three.
England is a significant favorite in all three group matches based on early payouts on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Pick England to win World Cup Group L now!
England to Advance to World Cup Knockout Stage
Yes 1.01x | No 16.66x
By far the most common projection by the masses is England reaching the knockout stage, and PrizePicks Team Picks' payouts reflect that.
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Make England World Cup Picks on PrizePicks
England has all the pieces to make a run at the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions have the right blend of star power, versatile role players, and a manager with a proven track record on the biggest stages.
You can make your England and 2026 World Cup picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money on World Cup games. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats like shots or goals, and cash in if you’re correct.
With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued World Cup predictions, picks, and analysis through the end of the tournament.
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