Thomas Tuchel does not name his England squad until next month, but could fans have gained insight into his potential selections through the latest Panini sticker book? On Wednesday, Panini launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Sticker Collection, their largest edition to date due to the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
England qualified flawlessly for the showpiece, to be played in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, winning all eight of their European qualifiers. While it is hard to ascertain who will definitely be picked for Tuchel's squad, Panini has selected 17 players for their sticker book.
Included are captain Harry Kane, first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and midfield duo Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. Other Tuchel squad favourites such as Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn (defence), Jordan Henderson, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers (midfield), Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka (forwards) also make the cut. Ollie Watkins, left out of last month's squad, is another in the Three Lions' 17.
The last two places may raise eyebrows: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden feature in Panini's collection. Foden's form has led many to question his World Cup selection; the 25-year-old is currently a substitute. Alexander-Arnold was left out of England's 35-man squad for their last batch of friendlies despite improved form with Real Madrid, and he has featured just once under Tuchel as a substitute against Andorra in June 2024.
Their inclusion contrasts with notable exclusions. The biggest omission is Elliot Anderson; the Nottingham Forest star is set to be one of the first names in Tuchel's starting XI. Speaking in November, Tuchel said of Anderson: 'He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League - that's why he is with us and starting for us.' Chelsea's Reece James and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo are also absent from the Panini book, despite being likely in Tuchel's squad.
Overall, there are 980 stickers to collect, including 68 special stickers showcasing the world's biggest stars and emerging talents. Collecting all 980 will come at a significant cost. One pack contains seven stickers, meaning you would need 140 packs to complete the book, assuming no duplicates. Panini's website advertises packs at £1.25 each within multipack offers, so 140 packs cost £175 minimum. The official hardback album costs £14.99, bringing the total to £189.99, but factoring in duplicates means costs will likely exceed £200.
