England's resounding 5-0 win over Latvia in Riga on Tuesday secured the Three Lions' place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also maintaining their perfect record in qualifying with six wins out of six.
A brace from Harry Kane along with goals from Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, and an own goal from Maksims Tonisevs rounded off England's second 5-0 win in their last three matches, and fans can now start making plans for next summer as England search for their first major tournament win since 1966 goes on.
Thomas Tuchel will have plenty of tough decisions to make between now and England's opening World Cup match when it comes to team selection, with the midfield being a particularly contentious topic.
Declan Rice has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, but the question remains, who will partner him at the base of England's midfield? Let's take a look at the options Tuchel has to choose from:
Jude Bellingham
The Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham has established himself as one of the best players in the world since his move to Real Madrid in 2023, and played a crucial part in England's run to the final of Euro 2024. He set the tone by scoring England's first goal of the tournament against Serbia, before producing a memorable overhead kick in the round of 16 against Slovakia to save his country from elimination and send the game to extra time.
He has not been involved in England's recent camps having only recently returned to action following surgery on his shoulder after the FIFA Club World Cup, but he will be back in contention for selection for England's upcoming camp in November once he builds up match fitness with Real Madrid.
There is no doubt Bellingham will have a big part to play in next year's World Cup for England, but it is yet to be known how Tuchel will utilise him. Will he deploy the 22-year-old next to Rice in the heart of the midfield? Or will Tuchel opt to play Bellingham further up the pitch to help facilitate the attack?
Elliot Anderson
Bellingham's absence due to injury has provided a golden opportunity for Elliot Anderson to receive his first taste of senior international football, and it is an opportunity he has grabbed with both hands.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder earned his call-up after an impressive showing at the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship which saw England crowned as champions, and he has started alongside Rice in all four of his senior appearances so far - winning the Player of the Match award in both of his first two matches.
He completes passes, wins duels, and covers plenty of ground, qualities every manager wants in a midfielder regardless of their age or experience. He and Rice have strung up a very effective partnership in the midfield, and it has certainly given Tuchel some food for thought as Anderson continues to stake a strong claim to be part of his World Cup squad next summer.
Adam Wharton
Another young midfielder who is turning heads in the Premier League is Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. The 21-year-old has become a fan's favourite at Selhurst Park after playing a key role in the Eagles' FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs in recent months, and is already reportedly being sought after by some of the biggest clubs in the world.
His international career, however, has not quite taken off yet. He has earned just one cap after he came on as a substitute in a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024, before spending the entirety of England's Euro 2024 campaign as an unused substitute.
Tuchel has reiterated that Wharton is still in his thoughts when it comes to selection despite not calling him up in any of his squads thus far, but the Palace midfielder now faces a race against time between now and the end of the season to stake his claim to start next to Rice at the World Cup, a task which looks to be even tougher now given how seamlessly Anderson has settled into the side.
Kobbie Mainoo
Fifteen months ago, Kobbie Mainoo emerged as one of the hottest young prospects in world football and was lighting up Euro 2024, becoming the third-youngest player to start for England at a knockout stage of a major tournament.
However, he does not currently appear to be in Tuchel's plans given the lack of game time he is getting at club level. Mainoo's only start for Manchester United this season came in their high-profile Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town, and he has only amassed 113 minutes through United's first seven Premier League matches so far.
There is no doubting the immense ability Mainoo possesses, but his place in Tuchel's World Cup squad next summer appears contingent upon whether he receives more playing time from Ruben Amorim, or whether he is able to force a move away from Old Trafford in January in search of more regular minutes - a request which was turned down by the club towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Conor Gallagher
After he made the bold choice to move to Atlético Madrid from Chelsea in 2024, Conor Gallagher became a fan favourite with the Atléti supporters due to his relentless pressing, tenacious tackling, and exceptional technical prowess.
However, this season, Diego Simeone has started Gallagher in only three of Atléti's first ten matches in all competitions, often preferring the pairing of Koke and Pablo Barrios in midfield. Consequently, Gallagher has also found himself to be a bit-part player with the national team as of recent, with his last appearance for England coming in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal in June.
He currently looks to only have an marginal chance of making Tuchel's final World Cup squad, but one thing that does work in Gallagher's favour is how well Tuchel knows the 25-year-old from his time as Chelsea manager. Tuchel will know exactly what Gallagher can bring to his squad, but he will likely need to see more from the former Chelsea man between now and the end of the season if he is to force his way onto the plane for the World Cup next summer.
Jordan Henderson
It has been 15 years since Jordan Henderson made his senior debut for England in a friendly against France, and after a 14-month absence from the national team between November 2023 and March 2025, Tuchel has revived Henderson's international career.
With 86 caps to his name and having captained his country on nine occasions, Henderson's leadership is something Tuchel values greatly, claiming that the Brentford midfielder "embodies everything we are trying to build," while also praising the impact he has had around the camp since his return to the set-up.
While he may not be the first choice to start next to Rice, the fact that he has been to three World Cups means he provides a wealth of experience to a squad full of exciting, but relatively inexperienced young players when it comes to major tournaments. He is certainly a viable option Tuchel can turn to, and given the gruelling conditions the players are likely to have to deal with next summer, squad rotation will likely be key to any success England are to have.
