A supercomputer has predicted the 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup, including some surprising picks and notable omissions under fictional manager Thomas Tuchel.
With England’s ticket to the 2026 World Cup already secured after a flawless qualifying campaign, attention is turning to which players Thomas Tuchel may trust on the biggest stage. A new prediction generated by ChatGPT has attempted to forecast the 26-man squad that could represent the Three Lions in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
In goal, Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No. 1, backed by Dean Henderson and emerging Manchester City talent James Trafford. The defensive selections feature a mix of experience and youthful promise, with Trent Alexander-Arnold tipped to reclaim his place despite being dropped earlier in Tuchel’s reign. Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly complete the back line.
The midfield projection includes stalwarts Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, alongside Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. The list notably excludes senior figures such as Jordan Henderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Up front, ChatGPT predicts Tuchel will select only one natural striker, Captain Harry Kane. Marcus Rashford earns a spot following his resurgence at Barcelona, while Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke complete the attacking unit. Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins are among the most surprising omissions.
The forecast highlights both Tuchel’s tactical preferences and the fierce competition for places ahead of next summer’s tournament.
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