Nations League: Tuchel recalls Alexander-Arnold, Palmer as England name 27-man squad

England's forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates with England's German head coach Thomas Tuchel after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match football between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 1, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP)

England manager 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 those returning to the Three Lions fold.

Tuchel made eight changes to the World Cup squad.

PUNCH Online on Monday reported that the squad was announced on Friday, September 18, ahead of an extended international window running from September 21 to October 6.

Alexander-Arnold, who now plays for Real Madrid, returns alongside his club teammate Jude Bellingham, while Chelsea forward Palmer is also included after missing the 2026 World Cup squad.

Several players have also returned following the start of the new club season, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall, Rio Ngumoha, Jarrad Branthwaite, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott.

England will begin their Nations League campaign against newly crowned world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26.

The Group A3 fixture will kick off at 7.45pm BST, with the match to be played at Wembley Stadium.

Tuchel’s side will then travel to Prague to face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena on Tuesday, September 29, with kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm BST.

The Three Lions will remain away from home for their third game of the window when they face Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, October 3.

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The match at the Stadium HNK Rijeka will kick off at 5pm BST and will be played behind closed doors following a UEFA sanction.

England will conclude the four-match window by hosting Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday, October 6, with the game scheduled for 7.45pm BST.

The squad will assemble at St George’s Park early next week to begin preparations for the four fixtures.

The 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 matches are the first of six Nations League group games for England in League A, Group 3.

After the October fixtures, they will host Croatia on November 12 before travelling to Spain on November 15.