Match Preview: England vs Albania, World Cup 2026 Qualifier
The Three Lions commence their campaign for the 2026 World Cup against Albania at Wembley Stadium, marking the inaugural match of the Thomas Tuchel era. This World Cup 2026 qualifier sees England, ranked fourth in the FIFA rankings, face off against 65th-ranked Albania. Historically, Albania has struggled against England, losing all six previous encounters with an aggregate score of 19-1.
While the fixture may appear more routine than thrilling on paper, an Albanian victory or draw would defy expectations and make headlines. Dubbed the Kuqezinjtë, meaning “Red and Blacks”, the Albanian squad aims to upset the odds. Kick-off is set for 7.45pm GMT.
Confirmed Team Lineups
England Starting XI
Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Jones, Foden; Bellingham, Rashford, Kane.
England Substitutes
Dean Henderson, Trafford, James, Guehi, Jordan Henderson, Colwill, Eze, Rogers, Gordon, Solanke, Bowen, Livramento.
Albania Starting XI
Strakosha; Balliu, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Aliji; Laci, Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Uzuni, Nedim Bajrami.
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Albania Substitutes
Kastrati, Sherri, Shehu, Manaj, Mihaj, Kumbulla, Medon Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Pajaziti, Hoxha, Broja.
Match Officials
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)
Tuchel Era Begins with Debutants
Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England’s head coach starts tonight, with two players earning their first international caps. Dan Burn, Newcastle’s recent Wembley scorer, and Arsenal’s young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly are set to make their debuts. Marcus Rashford returns to the starting lineup for the first time since November 2023.
Albania’s squad sees Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti as captain. Inter Milan’s Kristjan Asllani and Rangers winger Nedim Bajrami are also in the starting eleven. Armando Broja, currently playing for Everton on loan, is named among the substitutes. Albania is managed by Sylvinho, formerly of Arsenal and Manchester City. Sylvinho’s past Wembley experiences include playing for Brazil in 2000 and assistant managing Brazil at Wembley in 2017.
Walker Looks Ahead to “Exciting New Era”
Kyle Walker, in an interview with ITV, shared his perspective on the new managerial appointment. Reflecting on his England career spanning multiple managers – Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce, Gareth Southgate, and Lee Carsley – Walker described the current atmosphere as “exciting” and a “new era.” He acknowledged the “great memories” under Gareth Southgate but emphasized the need to “turn the page and start again.”
Walker highlighted Tuchel’s vision for a “high-intensity game” focused on “energy” and “being smart.” He concluded, “We don’t want it to be 6-6 … we want to win at the end of the day,” setting a clear objective for tonight’s World Cup qualifier.
Fan Photos from Wembley
Flashback: England vs Spain, 2011
In a nod to the past, we recall Kyle Walker’s England debut in 2011 against then-world champions Spain. Relive Frank Lampard’s decisive header in that match by revisiting our live blog coverage.
Revisiting Past Encounters: England vs Albania World Cup Qualifiers
Ahead of tonight’s match, let’s reflect on England’s previous World Cup qualifying games against Albania from the 2022 campaign.