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Build your England XI for the World Cup 2026: complete football guide.

~16 min read
Updated on 13 July 2026
World Cup 2026 · D−0
“They think it's all over... it is now!”
11

From keeper to centre-forward, pick the 11 starters and 15 on the bench.

TeamBranch reproduces the official structure of a football side: 1 goalkeeper, 10 outfield players, a tactical shape (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2…), a captain, an armband. Eleven positions, eleven calls, from keeper to forwards.

Draft from the 2026 Three Lions (Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, John Stones, Jordan Pickford, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guéhi, Anthony Gordon), the 1966 heroes (Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks), the Premier League stars, or pick from Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany. You can also assemble a side 100% with your mates for Sunday's five-a-side.

28,000 players 11 positions 9 tactical shapes Share with one link
Signature mode · World Cup 2026 simulation

Your XI plays 8 matches to lift the trophy.

Most tools stop at the line-up. TeamBranch takes you all the way to the final whistle. Pick your side, we drop it into the official 48-team bracket, and we simulate every fixture: 3 group games, then round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. That's 8 matches in total to go all the way, with scores, scorers, cards and stats.

A single simulation engine, calibrated on the real strength of the players you pick. For non-footballer cards (a mate, an MP, your gaffer at work), the engine derives a strength from the person's occupation: a soldier defends better than a singer, a barrister stays calm in pens, a baker keeps stamina deep into extra time. Re-run as many times as you like, share the tournament sheet.

▶ Run a simulation
Final bracket · sample simulation
Quarters
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England2
🇩🇪 Germany1
🇫🇷 France3
🇲🇦 Morocco1
Semi
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England2
🇧🇷 Brazil1
Final
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England3
🇫🇷 France2
🏆 World Champions · It's coming home
8matches played
7Kane goals
0defeats
2ndWC star
World Cup 2026

My Three Lions for USA, Canada, Mexico

Anticipate the XI for 12 June 2026 against a first opponent still to be confirmed after the final draw. Build Thomas Tuchel's side (or yours) to chase a second star. Euro 2024 finalists in Berlin, England head into 2026 carrying 60 years of hurt since the 1966 triumph at Wembley.

TuchelKaneBellinghamSaka
Euro 2028 · UK and Ireland

The XI for the post-World Cup

Rebuild the side that will defend on home soil at Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland. Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands: the Euros remain the toughest competition. Look back to 1996 at Wembley (Three Lions on a Shirt), or look ahead to 2028.

Euro 96Euro 2020WembleyUK and Ireland
Premier League

The Premier League XI of the season

Mix the champions of Manchester City, the Reds of Liverpool, the Gunners of Arsenal, the talents of Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa. The best XI of the English top flight, your way.

Man CityLiverpoolArsenalChelsea
Fun side · the mates XI

The Sunday League XI

Uncle in goal, mate at right-back, brother as the holding midfielder, girlfriend on the wing. Add your own photo cards for the five-a-side league, the cup final, or just for the third half down at the pub after Thursday's training.

CustomPhotoFive-a-sideSunday League
The Eleven Gazette · World Cup special issue
No. 256 · 1930 to 2026

Ninety-six years of World Cup, one solitary star above the Three Lions crest.

From the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay (which England didn't even enter) to today, the Three Lions have lived an extraordinary, painful, occasionally glorious journey: 1 star (1966 at Wembley), 3 semi-finals (1966, 1990, 2018), 2 European Championship finals (Euro 2020 at Wembley, Euro 2024 in Berlin), and 60 years of hurt in between. On TeamBranch, you can replay every generation, or rewrite the finals that got away.

1966 · England, World Champions

Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Sir Alf

30 July at Wembley. England 4-2 West Germany after extra time. Geoff Hurst bagged a hat-trick — the only player ever to do so in a World Cup final. Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy, Sir Alf Ramsey was the manager, and Kenneth Wolstenholme's commentary, “They think it's all over... it is now!”, etched itself into the nation's memory.

The road there: Hurst's controversial second goal (off the underside of the bar — did it cross the line?), Bobby Charlton's brilliance, Gordon Banks in goal, and the Wingless Wonders. Nothing has matched it since. Sixty years of hurt began the moment the final whistle blew.

1990 · Italia '90

Gazza's tears, the semi against West Germany

England 1-1 West Germany (3-4 on pens). Bobby Robson's side reached the semi-final in Turin. Lineker equalised after Brehme's deflected free-kick. Paul Gascoigne picked up the yellow card that would have ruled him out of the final, and burst into tears on the pitch. England lost on penalties. The whole nation cried with him.

The legacy is colossal. New Order's “World in Motion”, Luciano Pavarotti's “Nessun Dorma”, the rebirth of English football after the dark Eighties of Heysel and Hillsborough. Italia '90 changed everything: it laid the foundation for the Premier League, which kicked off in 1992.

2018 → 2026 · The Southgate era then Tuchel

From Russia to Wembley, from heartbreak to hope

Russia 2018, semi-final under Gareth Southgate: a 2-1 extra-time loss to Croatia after Kieran Trippier's opener. Then the run continued: Euro 2020 final at Wembley, lost on penalties to Italy after a Saka miss. Euro 2024 final in Berlin, lost 2-1 to Spain after Cole Palmer's equaliser, then Mikel Oyarzabal's late winner.

October 2024: Southgate stepped aside, the FA appointed Thomas Tuchel, the first German ever to manage England. 2026: 60 years on from 1966, with Bellingham, Kane, Saka, Foden, Palmer — this is the generation. The revenge starts on 11 June 2026 at the Azteca.

Architecture of the XI

How is a football side put together?

A football side lines up with 11 players on the pitch (one keeper, ten outfield players) and 15 subs on the World Cup 2026 squad sheet. Each position has a clear role — that's exactly the grammar TeamBranch reproduces for your line-up.

The back line (5 in a 5-3-2, 4 in a 4-3-3) is the structure: tough centre-halves, full-backs who get forward. The midfield is the engine: ball recovery, transition, creation. The attack is the finish: pace, dribble, last touch. And the keeper, the eleventh man, often wins World Cups on his own (ask Gordon Banks).

The goalkeeper · No. 1
Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson. Reflexes, distribution, command of the box. Peter Shilton holds the cap record (125), Gordon Banks made “the save” from Pelé in 1970.
The centre-halves · 4 and 5
The warriors. Aerial duels, anticipation, distribution. John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa. Yesterday: Bobby Moore, Terry Butcher, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry.
The full-backs · 2 and 3
The modern wing-backs. Cover the whole flank, defend then bomb on. Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right, Luke Shaw on the left, plus Reece James, Kyle Walker. Yesterday: Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Stuart Pearce.
The holding midfielder · No. 6
The anchor. Ball recovery, first pass, reading of the game. Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo. Yesterday: Bryan Robson, Roy Keane (Ireland but Old Trafford), Owen Hargreaves. The soul of the side.
The box-to-box midfielders · 8 and 10
The engines. Volume of running plus quality on the ball. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, James Maddison, Adam Wharton. Yesterday: Paul Gascoigne, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Bobby Charlton.
The attack · 7, 9 and 11
Left winger, centre-forward, right winger. Pace, dribble, finish. Harry Kane as the No. 9 captain, Bukayo Saka on the right, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford. The goal-scoring machine.
The football lexicon

The words you need to talk football down the boozer.

Goal
The ultimate act: put the ball in the back of the net (the goal frame is 7.32 m wide by 2.44 m tall). Worth 1 point, no bonus, no conversion. The absolute unit of the beautiful game.
The penalty area · the eighteen-yard box
The area within 18 yards of the goal. Inside it the keeper can handle the ball. A defender's foul here = a penalty kick.
Penalty and free kick
The penalty (12 yards from goal, around 75% conversion) is awarded for a foul in the box. The direct or indirect free kick for a foul outside it. English specialists: Beckham, Lampard, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Offside
The attacker must have at least two defenders (including the keeper) between him and the goal line when the ball is played. VAR transformed the way it is applied. The most misunderstood law in the game.
VAR and video review
Video Assistant Referee. Officialised at the 2018 World Cup. Checks goals, penalties, red cards, mistaken identity. The Premier League introduced it in 2019-20; by 2026 it has been bedded in for eight years.
Formations · 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 / 3-5-2
The tactical shapes. 4-3-3 = modern standard (Pep, Klopp). 4-2-3-1 = double pivot plus number 10 (Tuchel). 3-5-2 = three centre-halves plus wing-backs (Conte). 5-3-2 = the cautious Southgate at Euro 2024.
Penalty shootout · the spot kicks
The final ordeal after extra time. 5 takers alternating, then sudden death. England's record is famously grim: Italia '90, Euro '96, France '98, Euro 2004, World Cup 2006, Euro 2012, Euro 2020. The curse of the big moment, eased only by 2018 vs Colombia and Euro 2024 vs Switzerland.
Brace, hat-trick and nutmeg
The signature words. Brace = two goals in one match. Hat-trick = three goals (Geoff Hurst, 1966 final). Nutmeg (or “megs”) = a ball played through an opponent's legs. Screamer = a top-bin worldie. Gaffer = the manager.
Catenaccio and tiki-taka
The iconic schools of thought. Catenaccio = Italian ultra-defensive lockdown. Tiki-taka = Spanish possession 2008-2012. Gegenpressing = German press (Klopp). Joga bonito = Brazilian flair. The English way? Up and at 'em, get it in the mixer.
Five eras · Five iconic sides

Replay the Three Lions who shaped the world game.

Every generation has its figures, its systems, its legends. On TeamBranch, you can recompose every England side exactly as it was, or change a single name and see what happens. What if Cantona had been called up in 1966? What if Greenwood had played the 2022 World Cup? Find out in 60 seconds.

1950 to 1962
The post-war years
1950 in Brazil: the “Miracle on Grass”, a 1-0 defeat to the USA in Belo Horizonte. The Busby Babes, Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney. Munich 1958 air disaster. Walter Winterbottom in charge, learning how to play in tournaments.
MatthewsFinneyLofthouseWright
1963 to 1970
Sir Alf and the Wingless Wonders
1966: World Champions at Wembley, the only star on the shirt. Sir Alf Ramsey, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks. 1970 Mexico: defending champions, Banks' save from Pelé, quarter-final loss to West Germany.
MooreHurstCharltonBanksRamsey
1986 to 1996
From the Hand of God to Euro 96
1986 Mexico: the Hand of God, Lineker top scorer. 1990 Italia '90: semi-final, Gazza's tears, lost on pens. Euro 96 at home: “Three Lions” by Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds, Gascoigne's goal vs Scotland, semi-final lost on pens to Germany.
LinekerGascoigneShearerAdamsSeaman
2002 to 2016
The Golden Generation
Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Owen. Quarter-final 2002, 2006, 2010 (R16 loss to Germany 4-1, the disallowed Lampard goal). No tournament won. Eriksson, McClaren, Capello, Hodgson — managers came and went, the trophies never did.
BeckhamGerrardLampardRooneyFerdinand
2018 to 2026
From Southgate to Tuchel
Russia 2018 semi-final, Trippier vs Croatia. Euro 2020 final at Wembley, lost on pens to Italy. Euro 2024 final in Berlin, lost 2-1 to Spain. October 2024: Tuchel appointed. Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Kane, Palmer — the generation that could finally end it. The 2026 World Cup kicks off on 11 June.
KaneBellinghamSakaFodenTuchel
“
Some people are on the pitch... they think it's all over... it is now! Sixty years on, England wants to hear it for a second time.
Kenneth Wolstenholme, BBC commentator, 30 July 1966, World Cup final, England 4-2 West Germany

Every football side you can build.

9 themes · no sign-up
★
Three Lions for World Cup 2026

My Three Lions for USA, Canada, Mexico

Build the XI that will play the World Cup 2026. Mix the established names (Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Rice, Stones, Pickford) and the young guns (Palmer, Mainoo, Wharton, Lewis-Skelly, Rogers, Anderson). Your starting XI, your bench, your captain. Tuchel calls the shots on his — you call yours.

GK PickfordCB StonesCM RiceST KaneRW Saka
Three Lions · 202652 internationals
⭐
The 1966 World Champions

Sir Alf Ramsey's Wingless Wonders

Gordon Banks in goal, George Cohen, Jack Charlton, Bobby Moore, Ray Wilson at the back, Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters in midfield, Roger Hunt, Geoff Hurst up top. The XI of 30 July 1966 at Wembley vs West Germany. 4-2 after extra time. Hurst's hat-trick. The only star.

M MooreH HurstC CharltonB Banks
30/07/1966 · Wembley22 heroes
🏆
Euro 2024 finalists

Southgate's last XI: Berlin

Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Luke Shaw at the back, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo as the double pivot, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden behind Harry Kane. The XI of 14 July 2024 in Berlin vs Spain: 1-2, Palmer equalised off the bench, Oyarzabal won it late.

K KaneB BellinghamS SakaF Foden
14/07/2024 · Berlin26 finalists
🌍
World Cup legends

The all-time World Cup XI

Step outside the Three Lions: Pelé, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Zinédine Zidane, Garrincha, Lev Yashin, Paolo Maldini. The absolute XI in 96 years of World Cup history.

P PeléM MaradonaM MessiZ Zidane
1930 → 2022800 legends
🦁
The Lionesses · women's side

The Lionesses, your way

Build Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses. Mary Earps or Hannah Hampton in goal, Leah Williamson (captain) and Millie Bright in defence, Lucy Bronze at right-back, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead. Euro 2022 winners on home soil at Wembley, World Cup 2023 finalists.

W WilliamsonB BronzeR RussoJ James
Lionesses · 2026240 players
🇧🇷
Brazil · Argentina · rivals

The South American XI that strikes fear

What if you took the yellow shirt? Build the Brazil of all time: Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Romário, Garrincha, Rivelino, Zico. Or Argentina of Messi and Maradona. Or Uruguay, twice world champion. 9 World Cups for the continent — the same total as Europe.

BR PeléAR MessiBR RonaldoAR Maradona
CONMEBOL · 9 stars1,100 players
🏟
Premier League

The XI of the English top flight

Mix the Manchester City champions, the Reds of Liverpool, the Gunners of Arsenal, the Red Devils of Man United, the Blues of Chelsea, the Spurs of Tottenham, the Magpies of Newcastle, the Villans of Aston Villa. The best XI of the Premier League on a single sheet.

MCI Man CityLIV LiverpoolARS ArsenalMUN Man Utd
Premier League · 20 clubs720 profiles
🎬
Celebrities and fiction

The unlikely XI

Adele in goal, Stormzy as the No. 10, Idris Idris at left-back, Mr. Bean as the captain, James Bond centre-forward (Walther PPK incl.), Harry Styles on the wing, Ed Sheeran in attack, Tyson Fury in defence. The only XI where you can line up Beckham AND Posh on the same flank.

A AdeleS StormzyB BondM Bean
Film · TV · pop2,100 profiles
👨‍👩
Your nearest and dearest

The XI of your club, your mates, your family

Add your own photo cards. Stick your brother at No. 10, your mate at left-back, your cousin on the wing, your dad as the captain. The Sunday League XI, the works team, the five-a-side Thursday night side, or the team of the after-match pint at the local. Custom and unlimited.

+ Photo+ Photo+ Photo+ Photo
Custom · freeunlimited
World Cup 2026 · D−0

The 2026 World Cup kicks off on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is played in the USA, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the first edition with 48 nations and 104 matches. 16 host cities, 12 groups of 4, final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Three Lions, Euro 2024 finalists and World Champions of 1966, are chasing a long-overdue second star and the definitive vindication of the Bellingham, Kane, Saka generation. It's coming home... we hope.

On TeamBranch, build your World Cup 2026 XI today by hypothesis: Tuchel's current squad, a younger generation XI, return of senior players, or a complete overhaul. Six ready-made templates, editable in two clicks.

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Days
00
Hours
00
Min
00
Sec
Ready-made templates · World Cup 2026
01
Tuchel and Kane line-up
The current squad: Pickford, Stones, Guéhi, Walker, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Palmer, Kane. The XI from the last friendly.
→
02
Young generation XI
The under-23s pushed to the front: Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Elliot Anderson, Noni Madueke.
→
03
All-time England XI
The legendary XI: Banks, G. Neville, Moore, Adams, A. Cole, Robson, Charlton, Gascoigne, Beckham, Lineker, Shearer. Three eras fused.
→
04
Premier League dominant XI
7 players from Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal. The Premier League spine: Stones, Walker, Foden, Rice, Saka, Trippier and Henderson.
→
05
Revenge for Euro 2024
Erase the Berlin defeat to Spain. Every player on the 14 July 2024 sheet, recalculated for 2026 with a stronger midfield and a deeper bench.
→
06
World XI · global pick
Not English, not Spanish: your ideal XI from the whole planet. Courtois, Hakimi, Van Dijk, Rüdiger, T. Hernandez, Bellingham, Pedri, Rodri, Vinicius, Haaland, Salah.
→
World tour of the World Cup

The 12 nations who shaped the World Cup, and their iconic XIs.

The World Cup has only had 8 different winners in 96 years. Top of the tree: Brazil 5 stars, Germany and Italy 4, Argentina 3, France and Uruguay 2, England and Spain 1. Plus a half-dozen regulars in finals and semis. On TeamBranch, you can build the XI of every nation: current, historic, or your ideal mix.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
England
Three Lions
1 star (1966 at Wembley). Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finalists. Bellingham, Kane, Saka: the generation chasing a long-overdue second title under Tuchel.
BellinghamKaneSaka
🇧🇷
Brazil
Seleção · Auriverde
5 stars (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). The most titled country in history. Pelé, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar.
PeléRonaldoNeymar
🇦🇷
Argentina
Albiceleste
3 stars (1978, 1986, 2022). Reigning world champions. Messi finally lifted it in Qatar. Maradona, Mascherano, the eternal rivals of England (Hand of God, 1986).
MaradonaMessiMascherano
🇩🇪
Germany
Die Mannschaft
4 stars (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014). Plus 4 lost finals. The European benchmark — and England's historical nemesis. Beckenbauer, Müller, Klose.
BeckenbauerKloseMüller
🇮🇹
Italy
Squadra Azzurra
4 stars (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). Absent from the last two World Cups (2018, 2022). Beat England on pens in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. Catenaccio, Buffon, Pirlo.
BuffonPirloBaggio
🇫🇷
France
Les Bleus
2 stars (1998, 2018). 4 finals. The Mbappé generation chases a third star in 2026. Often England's knockout-stage banana skin.
ZidaneHenryMbappé
🇺🇾
Uruguay
La Celeste
2 stars (1930, 1950). The first World Cup and the “Maracanazo”. 4th in 2010, 2018. The eternal Celeste.
CavaniSuárezForlán
🇪🇸
Spain
La Roja
1 star (2010). Euro 2024 champions, beating England in the Berlin final. Tiki-taka and the Pedri-Yamal generation reach 2026 at the summit.
YamalPedriRodri
🇵🇹
Portugal
Seleção das Quinas
3rd in 1966 (beaten by England in the semi). Euro 2016 champions. Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Eusébio. The current Portuguese generation with Vitinha, Leão, B. Fernandes.
RonaldoLeãoB. Silva
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Oranje
3 lost finals (1974, 1978, 2010). The eternal finalist. Cruyff, Bergkamp, Van Basten, Van Dijk.
Van DijkDepayGakpo
🇧🇪
Belgium
Red Devils
3rd at 2018 World Cup. The golden generation of Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku. FIFA No. 1 for years.
De BruyneLukakuDoku
🇲🇦
Morocco
Atlas Lions
2022 World Cup semi-finalists, the first African nation. Hakimi, Ziyech, Bono. The pride of the continent.
HakimiZiyechBono
The 16 host cities · USA · Canada · Mexico

The 16 stadiums that will host World Cup 2026.

For the first time in history, the World Cup is played across three countries and 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada. 104 matches in total, final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July 2026, opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June. On TeamBranch you can build the XI of the opening match, the XI of a given stadium, or the XI of the final.

MEX
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City
Opening
NJ
MetLife Stadium
New York / NJ
Final
DAL
AT&T Stadium
Dallas
Semi-final
LA
SoFi Stadium
Los Angeles
8 matches
ATL
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta
Semi-final
MIA
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami
3rd place
SF
Levi's Stadium
San Francisco
6 matches
PHI
Lincoln Financial
Philadelphia
6 matches
BOS
Gillette Stadium
Boston
7 matches
SEA
Lumen Field
Seattle
6 matches
KC
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City
6 matches
HOU
NRG Stadium
Houston
7 matches
TOR
BMO Field
Toronto
6 matches
VAN
BC Place
Vancouver
7 matches
GDL
Estadio Akron
Guadalajara
4 matches
MTY
Estadio BBVA
Monterrey
4 matches
Share

Your XI, in one URL.

Every side built on TeamBranch generates a unique link and an Open Graph card with photos, numbers and a Three Lions banner. Share to WhatsApp, X, Insta, challenge your mates, kick off the pub debate.

Frequently asked questions

The classics about the ideal XI.

The questions our users ask most often on Google and in our messages.

How do I build my dream England XI online?
Pick a tactical shape (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, 5-3-2…), then fill the 11 starting positions and 15 subs by drafting from 28,000 players: Three Lions of today, 1966 heroes, Premier League stars, EFL talent, internationals, or add your own photo cards. You get a unique link to share with your mates. No sign-up required, completely free.
When does the World Cup 2026 kick off?
Thursday 11 June 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the opening match. The tournament runs through to Sunday 19 July 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 104 matches over 39 days, the first ever 48-team edition: 12 groups of 4, the top two plus the eight best third-placed sides qualify for the round of 32.
Which are the 16 host cities of World Cup 2026?
11 in the USA: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York / New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle. 3 in Mexico: Mexico City (Estadio Azteca, opening), Guadalajara, Monterrey. 2 in Canada: Toronto and Vancouver. The final is at MetLife Stadium (82,500 seats), the opening match at the Azteca (87,500 seats).
What is the official composition of a football side?
The XI consists of 1 goalkeeper and 10 outfield players arranged by the formation. In a modern 4-3-3: 4 defenders (2 full-backs plus 2 centre-halves), 3 midfielders (one holding plus two box-to-box), 3 forwards (two wingers plus one centre-forward). 15 subs on the World Cup 2026 squad sheet (5 changes allowed per match, plus extra time). TeamBranch reproduces this grammar to the letter.
Can I build an England XI for World Cup 2026?
Yes, it's the most-used template right now. We've got 6 ready-made line-ups by hypothesis: Tuchel's current side built around Bellingham and Kane, a younger generation XI (Mainoo, Wharton, Rogers, Lewis-Skelly), an All-Time England XI, a Premier League dominant XI, the revenge for the Euro 2024 final, and a World XI. Editable, shareable, updated before each friendly and after the final 26-man squad announcement.
Can I build a side with my mates or family?
Of course. 1.8 million custom XIs have been created so far. Upload photos of your mates, your brother, your dad, your cousin, your Sunday League gaffer, and place them in whichever positions you want. Perfect for the five-a-side league, the corporate footy tournament, the stag do, or just a bit of WhatsApp group banter ahead of the World Cup.
What about the Lionesses, the England women's side?
The Lionesses are 100% integrated. Build Sarina Wiegman's side (Euro 2022 winners on home soil at Wembley): Mary Earps (GK), Leah Williamson (captain), Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead. World Cup 2023 finalists. The Women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland was the next major target.
Which club leagues are covered?
The 20 clubs of the Premier League (Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, West Ham, Fulham, Wolves, Forest, Everton, Bournemouth, Leeds, Burnley, Ipswich rotating with promoted sides), the EFL Championship, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Saudi Pro League and MLS. Women's: WSL. Over 720 club profiles in total.
What tactical shapes does TeamBranch offer?
Nine: 4-3-3 (modern standard, Pep), 4-2-3-1 (double pivot plus number 10, Tuchel's preferred), 4-4-2 (classic English), 3-5-2 (three centre-halves and wing-backs), 3-4-3 (attacking, Conte at Spurs), 5-3-2 (Southgate Euro 2024 finish), 4-1-4-1 (compact), 4-3-2-1 (Christmas tree, Ancelotti), 3-4-2-1. You can switch at any moment and your XI rearranges automatically on the interactive pitch.
How many World Cups has England won?
1 star: 1966 at home, a 4-2 win after extra time against West Germany at Wembley with Geoff Hurst's iconic hat-trick (and Kenneth Wolstenholme's commentary, 'They think it's all over... it is now!'). Sir Alf Ramsey was the manager, Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy. Since then: semi-finals in 1990 (Italia '90, lost on pens to West Germany, Gazza's tears), 2018 (Croatia), Euro 2020 final (lost on pens to Italy at Wembley), Euro 2024 final (2-1 to Spain in Berlin). 60 years of hurt — and 2026 is the next shot.
Is the service really free?
Yes, no catch. Building your XI, sharing, exports, adding custom photo cards, tactical simulation: all free. No registration needed, no intrusive ads, no paywall. Build as many sides as you like, as many times as you like, for as many tournaments as you like.
Does TeamBranch exist for other football nations?
Yes, 187 local editions including Brazil (Seleção), Argentina (Albiceleste), France (Les Bleus), Germany (Die Mannschaft), Spain (La Roja), Italy (Squadra Azzurra), Portugal, Netherlands (Oranje), Belgium, Morocco (Atlas Lions), Uruguay, Mexico, Japan, South Korea. Each edition has its own local player base, legends and house terminology.