FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-ups: Ben White booed by home fans as England draw 1-1 with Uruguay

England’s Ben White marked his international return in bizarre fashion when he scored and was booed by his team’s own fans as Thomas Tuchel’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay in a friendly on Friday.

Federico Valverde’s injury-time penalty meant England managed to win for only the second time in Tuchel’s 11 games and conceded for the first time since defeat to Senegal in a friendly last June.

A much-changed England looked on course for an unremarkable victory when White, one of eight substitutes, tapped home at the back post in the 81st minute.

The Arsenal defender was making his first appearance for England since leaving World Cup camp in 2022 and going into self-imposed international exile, and the Wembley fans were in no mood to welcome him back with cheers.

He was booed when he came on in the 69th minute and even louder when he was announced as the scorer of his first senior international goal.

White then turned villain when he was deemed to have fouled Federico Vinas in the area following a VAR check. Valverde stepped up to calmly beat James Trafford from the spot in the 94th minute and the visitors almost won the match with a flurry of chances in a frenetic final.

With Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in or out of the squad, it was a night for some of Tuchel’s fringe players to stake their claims for a place on the plane to the World Cup.

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Harry Maguire made his first appearance for England in 18 months, while fellow defender Fikayo Tomori got his first international action since 2023.

Everton midfielder James Garner made his senior England debut, while Phil Foden also made a start after struggling for minutes for Manchester City this season.

Striker Dominic Solanke also got his first England start, eight years and 133 days after making his England debut as a substitute against Brazil in November 2017.

Such was the messy nature of the friendly meeting, however, that it was difficult to understand what Tuchel might have learned that he didn’t already know.

Marcus Rashford provided some nice moments out wide, while Noni Madueke showed some effort before leaving injured.

Foden was quiet before limping off in the second half after a thumping tackle from Ronald Araujo, infuriating Tuchel as Solanke worked hard without furthering his cause.

Solanke was eventually replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who squandered a glorious opportunity and headed wide from close range.

At least White’s introduction and pantomime villainy provided some belated interest to a disappointing audience.

Published on March 28, 2026