England's quest for a first World Cup trophy since 1966 continues in the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Thomas Tuchel's side made the journey across the Atlantic as one of the favourites to go all the way with the world-class talents of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham central to bringing football home.
Their first stop in Group L was a showdown against familiar opponents Croatia who they beat 4-2. But for the fourth successive tournament, England drew their second game 0-0 with Ghana in a first ever competitive meeting. They finished their group with a 2-0 win over Panama.
In the round of 32, they were given a scare by Congo DR but a dramatic Harry Kane double set up a showdown in the round-of-16 against Mexico.
England came out on top in an instant classic at the Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 despite going down to 10 men.
Harry Kane and co now face Erling Haaland's Norway in the quarterfinal.
ESPN rounds up everything you need to know about England's World Cup campaign.
- 2026 World Cup: Format, groups, full match schedule, more
- Meet England's squad: All 26 players picked by Thomas Tuchel and why
England's 2026 World Cup fixtures, results
GROUP STAGE
England 4-2 Croatia -- Wednesday, June 17
9 p.m. BST, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas -- ITV
England kicked off their campaign with their toughest Group L assignment -- a team ranked 11th in the world in a repeat of the 2018 semifinal. Harry Kane scored twice in a resounding 4-2 win.
England 0-0 Ghana -- Tuesday, June 23
9 p.m. BST, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts -- BBC
England's second match saw all the positivity from the week before come crashing down -- with Tuchel's men failing to create enough in a 0-0 draw with a Ghana side ranked 64th in the world.
England 2-0 Panama -- Saturday, June 27
10 p.m. BST, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey -- ITV
It wasn't a rip-roaring performance from the Three Lions, but second-half goals from Bellingham and Kane were enough to see the side qualify as group winners.
ROUND OF 32
England 2-1 Congo DR -- Wednesday, July 1
5 p.m. BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia -- BBC One
England survived a major scare when two Harry Kane goals in the final 15 minutes overturned an early opener from Congo DR, and sealed England's progression.
A win in Atlanta set up a daunting-looking clash with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca at around 2,000 feet above sea level in Mexico City in the round of 16.
ROUND OF 16
England 3-2 Mexico -- Monday, July 6
1 a.m. BST, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City -- BBC One
Having survived a major scare against Congo DR, England faced their biggest test of the tournament so far against one of the tournament co-hosts.
They passed with flying colours in a thriller at the Azteca, as they won 3-2 and held on despite going down to 10 men in the 54th minute, as Jarell Quansah was dismissed.
QUARTERFINAL
England 2-1 Norway (AET) -- Saturday, July 11
10 p.m. BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida -- ITV One
England found themselves behind again after Andreas Schjelderup's highly fortunate mishit cross beat Jordan Pickford but it was Jude Bellingham, the hero of the hour in the win over Mexico who was on fire once more.
Bellingham scored both of England's goals, one in the first half and one in extra time to ensure safe passage to England's fourth World Cup semifinal.
SEMIFINAL
England vs. Argentina -- Wednesday, July 15
8 p.m. BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
England will now face comfortably their toughest test yet when they take on Argentina in the World Cup semifinal.
Lionel Messi and co. have managed, in a similar way to England, to navigate past their three knockout opponents of Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland, without really showing the best of themselves.
Nonetheless, they are reigning champions for a reason and this will certainly be a huge challenge for Thomas Tuchel's men that is between them reaching the World Cup final or not.
How to watch
ITV1 broadcast England's opening World Cup game against Croatia and and did so again for their final group stage fixture against Panama. BBC One showed their clash against Ghana on June 23.
The BBC broadcast England's round of 32 meeting with Congo DR. Their round of 16 meeting with Mexico, and -- should they make it there -- semifinal games will also be on the BBC. ITV will show the quarterfinal.
The BBC and ITV both have broadcast rights for the showpiece event on July 19 in New Jersey.
- Every pundit, commentator and presenter on BBC and ITV
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Dan Burn, Nico O'Reilly, Djed Spence, Trevoh Chalobah
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke
World Cup base
England are based in Kansas City throughout the 2026 World Cup, using Swope Soccer Village as their training headquarters. Thomas Tuchel's side opted for the centrally located base to reduce travel demands across the United States, Canada and Mexico during the tournament.
The Three Lions are spending most of their time in Kansas City between matches, with the base providing training facilities, recovery areas and accommodation -- The Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel -- for players and staff. England held a pre-tournament camp in Florida before travelling to their World Cup headquarters.
England injury watch
England were hit with a last minute squad withdrawal on Tuesday as Tino Livramento was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a calf injury. Trevoh Chalobah was called up to replace him.
Djed Spence has returned to action following hamstring and jaw injuries.
John Stones was also selected despite a lack of gametime for Manchester City. He started against Croatia but has not featured in England's two games since then.
Bukayo Saka is still nursing an Achilles problem which saw him miss time during Arsenal's title run-in. Tuchel has said that England have to "take care" of the winger during the World Cup. He came off the bench in the first game against Croatia, but started against Panama in England's final group game.
Declan Rice was substituted against Croatia but Tuchel played down the severity of his issue and while he did play a full 90 minutes against Ghana, he was absent from the Panama game.
Reece James also missed out against Panama as he recovered from a hamstring issue.
Jarell Quansah added to England's injury woes when he went off with an injury in the Panama game.
The pair of right-backs subsequently missed the knockout clash against Congo DR.
Tuchel said Declan Rice was in 'terrible pain' during the Congo DR match but played through it.
Quansah returned to the starting XI for the Mexico game but picked up a red card after VAR review and is now suspended for the quarterfinal.
Jordan Henderson -- despite not playing a minute so far -- picked up a serious wrist injury after falling in the celebrations during England's win over Mexico.
None of James, Rice or Marc Guéhi joined team training on the Wednesday before England's quarterfinal against Norway.
But all three were involved in the end, with Rice taken off at half time, Guehi playing the full 120 minutes and James coming off the bench.
News
- Kane, Bellingham laud Tuchel's halftime speech vs. Croatia. Read
- Kane inspired by Messi, Mbappé, Haaland in World Cup goal rush. Read
- Hart: Harry Kane stuttered penalty 'really difficult' for goalkeepers. Read
- Six arrested at England-Croatia World Cup match, one for criminal trespass. Read
- Tuchel on entertaining England: 'People in pubs will like this'. Read
- Shearer: England's goalless World Cup draw with Ghana draw a 'reality check' Read
- Thomas Tuchel tells England fans to keep faith after Ghana draw. Read
- Gary Neville: Gordon 'under the most pressure' in England squad. Read
- Eze: England 'confident of what's to come' after drab Ghana draw. Read
- England's Bellingham not confrontational with Ghana's Ayew - sources. Read
- Tuchel: England 'desperately' need Bukayo Saka back to full fitness. Read
- England assessing fitness of Rice, James before Panama World Cup clash. Read
- Jürgen Klopp urges England fans to 'stay calm' after Ghana draw. Read
- Eberechi Eze backs 'special player' Saka to unlock Panama defence. Read
- Morgan Rogers: Jude Bellingham and I could play together for England. Read
- England's Reece James misses training ahead of Panama World Cup clash. Read
- Ivan Toney: 'Clear the air' talks with Thomas Tuchel a personality misunderstanding. Read
- Reece James to miss England vs Panama with injury, Rice and Anderson fit. Read
- England clinch World Cup knockout spot before Panama game. Read
- Harry Kane breaks England World Cup goal record vs. Panama. Read
- England 'will get better' in World Cup knockouts, Thomas Tuchel vows. Read
- Germany, Netherlands World Cup exits can 'calm us' - England's Thomas Tuchel. Read
- Declan Rice not keen on England World Cup right-back role: 'Hardest 12 minutes of the game.' Read
- Jude Bellingham: Thriller World Cup win vs. Mexico 'best night of my England career.' Read
- Jordan Henderson hospitalized with wrist injury after Mexico celebrations. Read
- Thomas Tuchel jokes U.S. President Trump could lift Jarell Quansah red card ban. Read
- England's Jordan Henderson has surgery, eyes return at World Cup. Read
- England's Jarell Quansah suspended for two World Cup matches after Mexico red card. Read
- FA reviewing incident after police called to England media centre. Read
- England captain Harry Kane details 'surreal' golf round with Donald Trump. Read
England World Cup kit rankings: When have Three Lions looked at their best?
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, ESPN ranks the best shirts England players and fans have worn over the years -- Shubi Arun Read
60 years of hurt - revisiting every England World Cup exit since 1966
ESPN takes a look at every England World Cup exit since their sole triumph in 1966 -- Shubi Arun Read
Lineker, Shearer, Owen, Rooney, Kane - is England's near half-century of world-class strikers about to end?
With an elite striker having worn the Three Lions on their chest for 42 years, England have taken the position for granted - but is Harry Kane the last? -- Tom Chambers Read
Inside England's World Cup prep: Tuchel's squad survive storms, heat in Florida
ESPN followed England throughout their pre-World Cup preparations to answer one question: Are they ready to win a first major tournament in 60 years? -- James Olley Read
'If we lose, we lose our way': Thomas Tuchel's Bazball England blueprint emerges in chaotic Croatia win
With Harry Kane, set pieces and an impact from the bench, England have set out their World Cup blueprint, writes ESPN's Tom Hamilton. Bazball 2.0, anyone? -- Tom Hamilton Read
Still uninspiring, but England avoid nightmare World Cup knockout scenario
England's 2-0 defeat of Panama sent them through as group winners -- and was a source of relief, records and reasons for concern all at once.. -- Tom Hamilton and James Olley. Read
Will the real England please stand up? Thomas Tuchel's side enter knockouts still searching for identity
England may have topped Group L but this team's identity and style is still unclear as they head into the knockouts. -- Tom Hamilton Read
England approach World Cup knockouts still with plenty of unknowns
There is still so much we don't know about this England side, three matches into their World Cup campaign. -- James Olley Read
England strive to avoid World Cup woe in a city notorious for the dreams it has destroyed
At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Team GB were bitterly disappointed. England will be hoping to avoid the same fate as they take on DR Congo in the same city. -- Tom Hamilton Read
How England can overcome Mexico's altitude in World Cup round of 16
England are facing a serious challenge as they take on Mexico at Estadio Azteca at altitude. What will help them cope with the circumstances? -- Mark Ogden Read
England end Mexico's World Cup with best win on foreign soil in their history
England came out on top in an immense test at the Estadio Azteca, as they overcame Mexico 3-2 in an instant classic. -- James Olley, Lizzy Becherano, Tom Hamilton Read