Harry Kane

Harry Kane is the England captain, named in Thomas Tuchel's final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup and listed in the Three Lions' forward group alongside Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins. The Bayern Munich striker is 32 at kick-off and brings 112 senior England caps and 78 international goals into the tournament, named as captain at what is his third senior World Cup, equalling Billy Wright's record for England appearances at the tournament.

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 won UEFA Group K to qualify on 14 October 2025, and Kane is named in the forward group on the final 26-man squad announced 22 May 2026.

Kane is a predominantly out-and-out striker, with clinical finishing and prolific goalscoring as the core of his profile. He is also known for his vision, technique, link-up play and passing range, which lets him drop deep to bring teammates into play and create chances from the number 10 space; he has been deployed as a false 9 on occasion. Penalty duties are part of his set-piece responsibilities for England, and his 78 international goals fit a centre-forward who leads the line for Tuchel's 4-2-3-1 rather than a wide-channel runner.

Hold-up play and link-up with the midfield runners behind him are part of the same all-action centre-forward brief. With Bellingham and the attacking midfielders arriving from deep and Saka working the right flank ahead of Rice and the holding midfielders, Kane's role in that 4-2-3-1 sits at the top of the shape, finishing inside the box and dropping into the number 10 space to combine when the build-up needs it.

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.

Kane is part of the England team card at that £32m slot as the listed striker and penalty taker.