England welcome Serbia to Wembley Stadium this evening for their penultimate World Cup 2026 qualifier, a match charged with different motivations for both sides. The Three Lions, having already secured their place at next summer's tournament, are playing for pride and preparation, while the visitors are in a desperate fight for a qualifying spot.
Team News and Tactical Tinkering
England manager Thomas Tuchel has a near-full squad at his disposal and is expected to use this fixture to fine-tune his plans for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The headline news is the return of key midfielders Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to the set-up, both of whom will be eager to force their way back into the starting line-up.
However, the camp is not without its injury concerns. Defender Marc Guehi has been ruled out with a heavy bone bruise, and Morgan Rogers is a doubt due to a hamstring issue. They join Newcastle's Nick Pope and Anthony Gordon on the sidelines, with James Trafford and Trevoh Chalobah called up as replacements. Bournemouth's Alex Scott, who received a first call-up, has reportedly been left out of the matchday squad, but uncapped players like Nico O'Reilly and Jarell Quansah could feature.
The Serbian Challenge
For Serbia, this match is of critical importance. They are locked in a battle for second place in Group K and will be keen to avenge the heavy 5-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of England in Belgrade back in September. Their task is made more difficult by the absence of all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović, who misses out with an injury.
The goal-scoring responsibility will now fall to the Juventus duo of Dušan Vlahović and Filip Kostić, alongside Luka Jović. Under new management, Serbia will need a significantly improved defensive performance to have any hope of taking a positive result from their trip to London.
How to Watch and Match Context
The World Cup 2026 qualifier kicks off at 7:45 PM GMT on Thursday, 13 November 2025 at Wembley Stadium. For viewers in the UK, the match will be broadcast free-to-air on ITV1, with live streaming available on ITVX. Coverage begins at 7:00 PM GMT.
With just two camps remaining before the World Cup, every minute on the pitch is valuable for Tuchel as he decides which players will make the final cut for the tournament. While the pressure of qualification is off for England, the pursuit of winning momentum and a place in the manager's plans ensures there is no shortage of incentive for the home side.
