Twenty-four players who were born in England, making them eligible to play for the Three Lions, will represent other nations at the 2026 World Cup finals.

A study posted on Reddit found that 289 players in 2026 World Cup squads do not represent their country of birth. Only France (76 players) and Netherlands (44 players) have more players competing for other World Cup nations than England.

Only one player in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad wasn’t born in England. Manchester City defender Marc Guehi was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but moved to London at the age of one.

Here are the 24 players born in England but representing other World Cup nations. Just imagine how strong Tuchel’s starting line-up would be this summer if these players had chosen to play for England instead.

DR Congo (Two Players)

DR Congo have two players who were born in England: West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Tshibola.

Both players represented England at youth level before opting to play for DR Congo as senior professionals. On his decision to play for DR Congo, Wan-Bissaka said: “It’s my country, where my parents come from. I grew up in a Congolese household, and I’m proud to represent it.”

Iraq (One Player)

Manchester United fans will be familiar with the name Zidane Iqbal. The Manchester-born midfielder was once touted as a potential first-team star but ended up making just one senior appearance for the Red Devils before moving to Dutch outfit Utrecht.

Iqbal had the choice to represent England, Iraq or Pakistan. Since 2022, the 23-year-old has played 22 times for Iraq, scoring two goals.

Ghana (Three Players)

England’s stars will meet Ghana in the World Cup group stages and face three players who were born in the same country as them.

Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo was born in London, as was Jerome Opoku, who started at Fulham but now plies his trade with Istanbul Basaksehir. Meanwhile, Milton Keynes-born Brandon Thomas-Asante will be a Premier League player with Coventry City next season.

New Zealand (Three Players)

Veteran centre-back Tommy Smith was born in Macclesfield and played for England U17s and U18s before switching to New Zealand, while defensive midfielder Joe Bell was born in Bristol.

Matthew Garbett was born in London but moved to New Zealand at a young age. He’s now back in England playing for Peterborough United.

Scotland (Five Players)

Scott McTominay is Scotland’s star player but was actually born in Lancaster, England. Tyler Fletcher, son of Darren, was born in Manchester and plays for the Red Devils alongside his twin brother Jack, who plays for England’s Under-19s.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn played for England’s youth teams before switching his international allegiances to Scotland, while Leicester-born Che Adams and Sheffield-born George Hirst also began life south of the border.

Canada (Three Players)

Goalkeeper Owen Goodman was born in London but moved to Canada aged five. Although he resented Canada at Under-20 level, he also made two appearances after that for England’s U20s. However, he has been named in Canada’s 26-man World Cup squad.

Fulham defender Luc de Fougerolles was also born in London, while Middlesbrough’s Alfie Jones has spent his entire life living in England but is eligible to represent Canada through his grandmother.

USA (Three Players)

Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson was born in Milton Keynes, while Giovanni Reyna was born in Sunderland. Reyna’s father, former USA star Claudio, was playing for Sunderland at the time of his birth.

Their international teammate Sebastian Berhalter, who plays for Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, was born in London but grew up in Columbus, Ohio.

France (One Player)

Michael Olise has cemented his status as one of the world’s best players since leaving Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024. The 2026 Ballon d’Or award contender was born and raised in London to a British-Nigerian father and Franco-Algerian mother.

“I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and England.” Olise said. “I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me. I feel each individual part in me, I’ve developed attachments in all my countries.”

Switzerland (One Player)

Marvin Keller, one of Switzerland’s three 2026 World Cup goalkeepers, was born in London and only became a ‘keeper because his father bought him goalie gloves as a joke.

The 23-year-old, who also represented Switzerland at Under-19 and Under-21 level, has been on the books of Young Boys since 2023.

Norway (Two Players)

Like the USA’s Giovanni Reyna, Erling Haaland was born in England because his dad played professionally in the Premier League. However, there was never any doubt that Erling would follow in the footsteps of his dad, Alf-Inge, by representing Norway.

Former Liverpool youth player Thelo Aasgaard was also born in England but, like Erling, has only ever pulled on the Norway shirt.

Can you imagine England’s starting line-up with the likes of Haaland, Olise, McTominay and Semenyo added to it? They’d surely be the red-hot favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.

Footage has surfaced of a WWE Superstar dealing with an apparent injury, with the wrestler in question seen hobbling around a hotel lobby, using their luggage to help support them.

A video has done the rounds on social media after Monday’s edition of Raw, which took place in Italy following their Clash in Italy Premium Live Event this past weekend.

In what could be a disastrous stroke of bad luck, WWE may be forced to rethink their current storylines, as more and more talent get struck down through injury.

WWE’s Latest Injury Concern

Following his latest match against former Vision leader Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker appeared to be struggling with a legitimate injury as footage of him struggling up a small flight of stairs in a hotel reception emerged on social media.

Breakker has only just returned from a hernia injury, but after suffering defeat to Rollins on Monday, he was apparently left ‘banged up’ after a long match. The Dog only returned last month after a two-month absence, so another injury would be a huge blow to an exciting member of the roster.

Many fans are blaming The Vision for the injury, calling the faction cursed. This is due to the number of injuries suffered by members of the group since its inception in 2025. The first was Seth Rollins. He suffered a bad shoulder injury during his match with Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, which meant he missed a number of months, including the Royal Rumble in January.

Bronson Reed then suffered a bicep tear which has kept him out for a number of months, while Logan Paul tore his triceps, meaning he too will be missing for several months. This, alongside Breakker’s initial hernia injury, has fans worried about the future of the group.

A number of fans took to X to comment on the injuries suffered, with one saying: “Okay, The Vision is definitely cursed. End the faction now lol,” while another said: “I mean he is in The Vision so…”

While many have suggested it is all part of the storyline, False Finish has reported: “Bron Breakker was indeed banged up after his match with Seth Rollins on #WWERAW, but nothing that will affect him or working in-ring moving forward.”

Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to appoint Pierre Sage as their new manager, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Palace have known for some time that they would need a new manager this summer, after Oliver Glasner made it clear he would not be signing a new contract and would leave the club.

And now an agreement is close for Palace to bring in highly-rated Sage to Selhurst Park to replace Glasner, after he made the decision to quit Ligue Un outfit Lens.

Palace replacing one trophy-winning manager with another

Glasner will go down as the Eagles’ most successful manager in history, winning the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League in the past two seasons.

And in making the move to appoint Sage, Palace are probably bringing in the second most successful manager in Lens’ history.

Sage left his role as Lyon boss at the end of last season, making the move to Lens, where he enjoyed a terrific first season in charge. Lens were in the mix to win the Ligue Un title until losing to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in the penultimate game of the season.

They would go on to finish as runners-up for the sixth time in their history – they’ve won the title once – and lifted the Coupe de France trophy for the first time ever after a 3-1 win over Nice in the final.

Sage was one of the names on the shortlist for Liverpool, but their main priority was always to bring in Andoni Iraola, who had been linked with the vacant post at Selhurst Park until Arne Slot was sacked by the Reds.

Man City ace loves Pierre Sage

Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki played under Sage at Lyon and described him as a “genius”.

He said: “The coach brought back the serenity we needed so much. He knows how to talk to players, he understands how we feel. With him, there is no pretending. He gives us freedom while establishing a very clear framework. It’s exactly what we needed.”

“People forget just how much of a tactical genius he is. Every match is prepared down to the millimetre. We know exactly where the spaces are, what we have to do with the ball. He makes football simpler for us.”