England head coach Thomas Tuchel has named a 27-man squad for the opening four matches of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer among the notable returnees.
Tuchel has made eight changes to the squad that represented England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with several players returning after the start of the new club season.
Alexander-Arnold, who now plays for Real Madrid, has been recalled alongside club teammate Jude Bellingham, while Chelsea forward Palmer returns after missing England’s World Cup squad.
Other players brought back into the Three Lions fold include Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall, Rio Ngumoha, Jarrad Branthwaite, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott.
England will open their Nations League campaign against newly crowned world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26.
The Group A3 encounter is scheduled for 7:45pm BST at Wembley Stadium and will provide Tuchel’s side with an immediate test in the new Nations League campaign.
England will then travel to Prague to face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena on Tuesday, September 29, with kick-off also set for 7:45pm BST.
The Three Lions will remain on the road for their third fixture of the international window when they take on Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, October 3.
That match will be played at Stadium HNK Rijeka behind closed doors following a UEFA sanction and will kick off at 5pm BST.
England will round off the four-match window by hosting Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday, October 6, with the game scheduled to begin at 7:45pm BST.
The squad is expected to assemble at St George’s Park ahead of the fixtures as Tuchel begins preparations for the demanding opening phase of England’s Nations League campaign.
England Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
The four fixtures represent the first half of England’s six-match Nations League group campaign in League A, Group 3.
After the October international window, England will host Croatia on November 12 before travelling to Spain for the return fixture on November 15.
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