Declan Rice

Declan Rice is a confirmed midfielder in England's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, named by Thomas Tuchel on 22 May 2026 alongside Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo and Morgan Rogers. The Arsenal defensive midfielder is 27 at kick-off and brings 72 senior England caps into the squad, making this his second World Cup after the quarter-final run at Qatar 2022.

England face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, with the opener against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 17 June. Tuchel's side qualified by winning UEFA Group K on 14 October 2025, and Rice is listed among the midfielders behind captain Harry Kane.

Rice plays predominantly as a defensive midfielder, with athleticism, tackling and defensive screening in front of the back four as the core of his profile. He carries the ball through the lines from deep, breaks up opposition possession, and resets tempo with short and medium passing, which fits the holding role Tuchel's 4-2-3-1 needs from a senior international. Press resistance under pressure balances the destructive side of the game rather than being sacrificed for it.

He has also been deployed in a more offensive role on occasion as a number eight, with ball-carrying runs from deep and goals from range adding to the base midfield job. His six international goals for England fit a midfielder who steps forward when the shape allows it; with captain Harry Kane ahead of him and Bellingham operating further up, Rice's England role sits in the holding seat of that 4-2-3-1.

England are a Tier 1 pick on the Goal Rush card at £32m within the game's £200m card budget, the premium top-band slot rather than a mid- or lower-tier call. The Group L draw against Croatia, Ghana and Panama sets the early fixture context, with Tuchel's confirmed 4-2-3-1 and England's UEFA Group K qualifying run giving the team slot its main Goal Rush angle.

Rice is part of the England team card at that £32m slot as the holding midfielder.