Half of the England team might have to wear different uniforms from their teammates at the World Cup.
A bunch of England players and other football stars will be wearing a special badge on their shirts at the World Cup.
In just one month, the World Cup kicks off with Mexico hosting South Africa at the famous Estadio Azteca for the opening match of the biggest football event. The USA and Canada will also host games during the tournament, which features a record 48 teams playing 104 matches over the summer.
Before the tournament, England’s coach Thomas Tuchel will announce his 26-player squad on Friday, May 22. He has some tough choices to make. Several English players, like Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, and Cole Palmer, are expected to make their World Cup debuts.
It’s now confirmed that players playing in their first World Cup will have a special commemorative badge stitched on their kits. The badge will look similar to the one Chelsea wore this season to celebrate winning the Club World Cup last year.
Since many young players are expected in Tuchel’s squad, there could be as many as 13 debutants in the 26-man lineup.
It’s not just England players who will wear the badge—some of the biggest stars in football will also make their World Cup debuts this June. Spanish star Lamine Yamal, plus players like Michael Olise, Erling Haaland, and Rayan Cherki, are among them.
Also, some countries will have all their players wear the badge as it’s their first World Cup in many years. For example, Scotland’s squad will wear it since they qualified for the first time since 1998. Other nations making their World Cup debuts this year include Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Haiti, and Iraq.
Right now, we don’t know exactly how many players in England’s squad will be debutants and wear the badge. But here’s a list of English players who could make their first World Cup appearance if selected by Tuchel this summer.