Latest England World Cup squad odds: the 26 backed to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad, plus fringe contenders, market movers and most popular bets.
Thomas Tuchel will name his 26-player England squad for the 2026 World Cup on Friday 22 May, but the latest betting odds suggest several major selection calls are already taking shape.
England’s final World Cup squad is due to be announced on Friday 22 May 2026, before the Three Lions head to Florida for warm-up games against New Zealand and Costa Rica. England then begin their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday 17 June, followed by Ghana in Boston on Tuesday 23 June and Panama in New Jersey on Saturday 27 June.
All 48 nations must register between 23 and 26 players, including three goalkeepers, by Tuesday 2 June. Players in the final squad can only be replaced from the provisional list in the event of serious injury or illness, and no later than 24 hours before a team’s opening match.
According to the latest England World Cup squad betting odds, Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are among the shortest-priced players to make Tuchel’s final 26, while Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw and Levi Colwill are currently outside the odds-based squad.
England World Cup squad odds: projected 26-man squad
| Position | Players backed to make the squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford |
| Defenders | Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Reece James, Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Harry Maguire |
| Midfielders | Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze |
| Forwards | Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins |
Squad odds last updated at 16:00, Wednesday 13th May.
Goalkeepers: Pickford remains the clear No.1
Jordan Pickford (1/25) remains one of the shortest-priced players in the market and is strongly backed to be England’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Behind him, Dean Henderson has shortened to 1/10, while James Trafford is now 1/2 to make the final squad.
Goalkeepers according to the odds:
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
Defenders: Levi Colwill support grows
The latest odds suggest Tuchel’s defensive group will include Marc Guehi (1/16), Ezri Konsa (1/10), Nico O’Reilly (1/7), John Stones (3/10), Reece James (33/100), Lewis Hall (3/10), Dan Burn (1/2) and Harry Maguire (1/3).
The most eye-catching defensive market move is Levi Colwill, who has been heavily backed this week despite remaining outside the projected squad at 5/2. Some bookmakers have shortened Colwill to 1/1, underlining how split the market has become.
Colwill’s price move follows his return from a serious knee injury. BBC Sport reported in April that the Chelsea defender had spent several weeks training fully with the first team as he stepped up his recovery, with the possibility of an England World Cup role still alive despite the expectation that he would be eased back with limited minutes.
Defenders according to the odds:
Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Reece James, Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Harry Maguire.
Midfielders: Gibbs-White surge puts pressure on Foden & Eze
The odds-based midfield group remains Declan Rice (1/20), Cole Palmer (1/8), Morgan Rogers (1/16), Elliot Anderson (1/16), Jude Bellingham (1/7), Jordan Henderson (2/5), Phil Foden (4/9) and Eberechi Eze (1/3).
However, Morgan Gibbs-White is now one of the biggest stories in the market. He is still listed at 4/1 in the latest odds, but he is as short as 10/11 with some bookmakers after attracting major support alongside Colwill.
The betting interest is backed up by form. Gibbs-White has scored 14 Premier League goals this season, including nine goals and two assists in all competitions since the start of March, while also noting that competition for advanced midfield places is fierce with Bellingham, Rogers, Foden and Palmer all in the picture.
Gibbs-White’s late-season form is a timely reminder to Tuchel, highlighting his leadership and output for Nottingham Forest.
Midfielders according to the odds:
Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze.
Forwards: Watkins shortens again after late push
The forward line is still led by Harry Kane (1/25) and Bukayo Saka (1/16), with Anthony Gordon (1/12) also strongly backed.
Marcus Rashford has shortened to 1/4, while Noni Madueke is now 8/15, Jarrod Bowen is 8/13 and Ollie Watkins is 1/3.
Watkins’ position looks stronger than it did earlier in the spring after scoring nine goals since the start of April.
Forwards according to the odds:
Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins.
England World Cup squad odds: players on the fringe
| Player | Latest odds to make squad |
|---|---|
| Kobbie Mainoo | 8/11 |
| Tino Livramento | 5/6 |
| Djed Spence | 5/6 |
| Adam Wharton | 10/11 |
| James Garner | 1/1 |
| Fikayo Tomori | 11/10 |
| Jarell Quansah | 5/4 |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | 7/4 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 7/4 |
| Aaron Ramsdale | 21/10 |
| Luke Shaw | 9/4 |
| Levi Colwill | 5/2 |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | 4/1 |
The biggest change here is the gap between headline odds and bookmaker lows. Colwill is 5/2 in the latest market but as short as 1/1 elsewhere, while Gibbs-White is 4/1 but as short as 10/11 with some firms.
That suggests both players are genuine market movers, even if they are not yet inside the odds-based 26.
Most popular England squad bets this week
Morgan Gibbs-White and Levi Colwill have taken 51% of all To Make The England World Cup Squad bets so far this week.
Colwill’s support appears linked to his return from injury and England’s defensive uncertainty, while Gibbs-White’s surge is easier to connect to form. With 14 Premier League goals this season and a strong finish for Nottingham Forest, he has become one of the most plausible late attacking-midfield bolters.
The market now suggests punters are looking beyond the current projected 26 and backing late disruption before Tuchel confirms his final squad.
Biggest England squad selection battles
Morgan Gibbs-White vs Phil Foden & Eberechi Eze
Gibbs-White’s odds are still longer than Foden, Eze and Henderson in the main market, but his shortest price of 10/11 with some bookmakers suggests a real split of opinion.
Tuchel’s hardest call may come in the attacking midfield roles. In April that Tuchel had said Foden was “not a guarantee” for the World Cup squad, despite his profile and experience, which keeps the door open for a late mover such as Gibbs-White.
Levi Colwill vs Burn, Maguire & Stones
Colwill’s comeback creates a dilemma. On talent and profile, he offers left-footed centre-back balance. On match sharpness, the concern is whether his injury-hit season has left him short of tournament readiness.
At 5/2, he is still outside the squad according to the latest odds, but his 1/1 shortest price shows bookmakers are taking his late push seriously.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw remain outside the cut
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/4) and Luke Shaw (9/4) are both still outside the odds-based 26, despite being named among players to have made Tuchel’s 55-man provisional list.
