England can seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, and Alan Pardew has named his starting XI for the opening game.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side know ahead of their qualifier against Latvia that three more points are enough to book their spot on the plane after Albania beat Serbia on Saturday.
Tuchel has one remit: win the World CupGettyEngland have enjoyed a 100 per cent start to qualifying, and warmed up for this clash, live on talkSPORT, with a resounding 3-0 win over Wales at Wembley.
The Three Lions didn’t have Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Cole Palmer, but there were still many options for England in all positions.
As a result, picking an XI is going to be very hard, but experienced Premier League boss Pardew decided to have a crack anyway.
Speaking on Sunday’s episode of The Final Word, the former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Ham manager unveiled his choice.
Pardew’s XI
Goalkeeper
There is only really one choice for England’s number one, and that is Jordan Pickford. Pardew didn’t even make a comment on the Everton star.
The 31-year-old has delivered countless times for his country in all scenarios.
Therefore, he is one of the nailed on players to be starting.
Defenders
Here, there are a lot more options to choose from.
But in the end, he went for Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
James and Stones haven’t had a lot of football in recent years, and Lewis-Skelly has yet to start a Premier League game for Arsenal this season – in fact he’s played just 83 minutes of football across the Gunners’ seven league matches.
Meanwhile, James is likely to face competition at right-back from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tino Livramento, but the ex-top-flight gaffer feels James has the edge.
He said: “I think Reece James is under a bit of pressure from Livramento, but I like Reece James.
“I think he has leadership qualities that England are going to need, and particularly at the Club World Cup, his attitude was good, and when he came on the pitch, he changed the game in that final, I just like everything about him.
“I think he needs to be in the team.”
James appears to be over his numerous injury issuesGettyOn the other side, Lewis-Skelly has played for England, but at the moment, Riccardo Calafiori is ahead of him at Arsenal.
And Pardew acknowledges that could be a problem.
Pardew said: “I’ve got Myles Lewis-Skelly, who I think will be at left-back, but he’s going to need to play for Arsenal.
“Calafiori is doing very, very well, and at set plays, he’s a big part of the way they set up. If Lewis-Skelly gets in the team, he could make the England team.”
Interestingly, there is no mention of Djed Spence, who has played at left-back for England and Tottenham Hotspur, while Pardew did also bring up Lewis Hall.
Unfortunately, Hall has been injured for much of 2025 and has picked up a hamstring issue as well, which is set to keep him out until November, so left-back feels up for grabs.
In the heart of the defence, Guehi and Stones are the men Pardew has opted for, with the former Eagles gaffer convinced Guehi is nailed on.
Pardew said: “Guehi is nailed-on as the left-sided centre-back. No one is going to touch him if he stays fit. In terms of the way he is, and the way he carries himself as a person, so it’s just about that right side.”
Lewis-Skelly needs to get into the Arsenal team, but Pards is still tipping him to take the left-back roleStones is the man to partner Guehi in this XI, but injuries have been the problem for him, but Pardew is a huge fan.
When asked to expand on who will partner Guehi by Natalie Sawyer, he said: “At this time, I think it’ll be Stones, I hope so.”
The 31-year-old has racked up serious minutes for England in international tournaments and has nearly 100 caps, but over the last two seasons, he has only played 27 Premier League games for Manchester City.
Fitness issues have been a real problem for him, but if he can avoid those, he is a top class player.
Midfield
In the centre of midfield, Pardew went for Bellingham and Declan Rice, with Morgan Rogers as the ten.
Of course, that would mean Rice sitting as the deepest midfielder in the side, which is a role he doesn’t usually play anymore.
The Arsenal star has become a genuine box-to-box midfielder, however, Pardew thinks he needs to be in the team, no matter what.
Pardew said: “Arsenal are fortunate that they can have a player that can play in that position [no.6].
“But for England, he’s our best at that, and the other major attribute that he delivers for any teams is his set-play delivery is just off the scale – he is so accurate. He is in my team, no matter what.”
Sawyer mentioned Elliot Anderson, who has been stellar in all of his England performances so far, but for Pardew, it is Rice and Bellingham.
The reason he’s gone for Rogers as well is because of a potential partnership with Bellingham.
Rice is a massive player for club and countryGetty Anderson’s dramatic rise has been incredible, but he doesn’t get in Pardew’s XIGettyPardew continued: “There is a case for partnerships across international sides. I think Thomas being a club manager will look for those relationships.
“That is why I said about Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham. They are best buddies.
“Firstly, Morgan would want Jude to play well, and Jude would want Morgan to play well, so they would look after each other.
“Even though they don’t play together [at club level], there is a relationship there.”
You might be wondering where this leaves Cole Palmer and Phil Foden? All will be revealed. But first, we’ll just skip straight to striker.
Striker
Pardew mentioned Harry Kane‘s name once, and then just left it at that because that is all you need to say.
We are talking about the captain and the nation’s leading goalscorer. He is also in stellar form with Bayern Munich, and no matter where he is, he scores.
Now, onto the more interesting picks…
Wingers
For Pardew, the winger situation comes down to two very different scenarios, on the right, he has Bukayo Saka.
He said: “[Noni] Madueke isn’t going to get in front of Saka if Saka is fit and well.”
So, that’s the end of that, but on the left, Pardew didn’t make a pick due to the number of options.
He listed Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Palmer and Marcus Rashford as all having a chance.
But there was no mention of Foden, who played on the left at Euro 2024, at all.
Grealish has found a new lease of life and will be desperate to get back into the England squadAFP Foden was a surprise omission from Tuchel’s latest England squadGettyOn the winger situation, he said: “On the left side, I’ve got Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford – that is the one that is really up for grabs.”
Asked to actually pick a left winger, Pardew gave reasons for each option.
On Grealish, he said: “If I was Jack Grealish, I would think I could have a right good go at that, and I think that is where his mindset is, and he’s got a great chance of playing for England.”
But Pardew also makes a strong case for Palmer, adding: “The one you want to put in is Palmer. He is the one player that might make a big difference for us.
“I keep thinking of the lad at Liverpool [Florian] Wirtz, who played on the left side at Bayer Leverkusen and drifted in as a second number ten, and it was a real success.”
Rashford has enjoyed a great start to life at Barcelona, and Pardew thinks he has a case.
He said: “Marcus Rashford has a great chance. If he can stay in the Barcelona team and deliver what we know he can, then we’ve got enough defensive qualities behind him.
“Teams that have won the World Cup have carried players who haven’t been defensively brilliant. Just look at Lionel Messi, and Marcus has that ability to score goals and put left-footed crosses in.
“Cole Palmer wouldn’t be doing that, and Jack Grealish wouldn’t be doing that.”
The man who Tuchel appears to be prefer at the moment is Gordon, and Pardew can see why, saying: “Gordon has a chance because he’s proven at Newcastle that he is a big-game player.
“He’ll win penalties and cause damage. I think he’ll be going to the World Cup.”
So, that’s it, Pardew’s England XI for the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, with the left wing spot still undecided.
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