There was no room for Jordan Pickford in Alan Pardew’s England starting XI at the 2026 World Cup.
The Everton goalkeeper has been the Three Lions’ undisputed no.1 since making his debut in 2017, and recently earned his 76th senior cap in a 1-0 win over Andorra.
GettyJordan Pickford has represented England at four major tournaments, reaching the final in two of them[/caption]Pickford has found himself largely unchallenged between the sticks in his international career under Gareth Southgate, where he established himself as a key player in the national team set-up.
However, Thomas Tuchel‘s arrival as England manager, coupled with Dean Henderson‘s impressive form for Crystal Palace has sparked speculation the Everton stopper could face competition to keep his shirt.
And with the World Cup now just a year away, former Newcastle boss Pardew believes Pickford’s position is far from secure.
In fact, the 63-year-old named the 31-year-old as one of a number of players who face a fight to keep their Three Lions shirt, as he was asked to pick his starting line-up for next summer’s showpiece.
Following England’s lacklustre display in their narrow win over minnows Andorra, Pardew argued few players have staked a genuine claim to a place in Tuchel’s first XI.
Speaking on the Final Word, he said: “I’ve only got three names that I think are definite starters for England. And one of them is Harry Kane, he plays.
“[Jude] Bellingham plays – in the number eight shirt, not the number 10 shirt.
“The number six shirt will be Declan Rice, and I haven’t got anybody else. No one [is] nailed on for me, they’re all up for grabs.”
Pardew then cast doubt over Pickford as a starter, who claimed his past performances for Everton had hampered his chances with the national team.
When asked if he would play the Toffees man, he replied: “Not for me, not in this World Cup.
Pickford has played 319 games in all competitions for Everton since joining in 2017Getty Alan Pardew revealed he would not start Pickford at a fifth consecutive major tournament“He’s had a great spell with England, he really has but there’s been moments in his Premier League career where I worry about him and he’s never really brought that to the England team, fair enough.
“He might well be starting for England in the World Cup, but he’s not nailed on for me. He’s got a big year in front of him.”
Despite highlighting his club form as a factor that could impact his England position, Pickford kept 12 clean sheets for Everton in the Premier League last term, putting him just one behind joint leaders David Raya and Matz Sels.
This has earned him starts in all three of Tuchel’s games in charge so far, winning all three without conceding a single goal.
Despite this however, the German coach recently warned there will be strong competition for England’s no.1 jersey, as he highlighted both FA Cup champion Henderson, and promotion-winning Burnley stopper James Trafford‘s credentials.
Speaking ahead of the Andorra clash, he said: “Jordan has been in goal for a long, long time. He earned his place with consistent performances at a high level.
GettyThomas Tuchel faces a selection headache in goal for England[/caption] GettyDean Henderson lifted his first career silverware with FA Cup glory with Crystal Palace[/caption]“Jordan trains at the highest level and we’re very, very happy with him. He’s doing everything to keep his place because he feels that Dean stepped up and found another gear.
“Dean got a vital title for Palace (the FA Cup) and he was a big figure. This helped his confidence a lot.
Tuchel continued: “Then we have the very young James Trafford who played a fantastic, record-breaking campaign with Burnley and got clean sheets.
“Hopefully he can prove himself in the Premier League next season and then the race is on.
“It is a fight for every position, there is no exception for goalkeepers.”
Trafford kept 29 clean sheets in 45 matches last season as Burnley won promotion back to the Premier League.
James Trafford saved a penalty for the England under-21s in their European Championship final victory over Spain in 2023But at just 22 years of age, he has some way to go to match Pickford’s international pedigree, who has started in final defeats at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, becoming England’s most-capped goalkeeper at major tournaments in the process with 26 to his name.
It remains to be seen who Tuchel will opt for in goal ahead of England’s friendly clash with Senegal on Tuesday, live on talkSPORT.
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