England vs Japan – Tuchel left with a depleted squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-ups

England boss Thomas Tuchel will have no choice but to make the changes ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with Japan at Wembley Stadium after eight players left camp on Saturday with a variety of health problems and injuries.

After a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in a friendly on Friday, the FA announced the departure on Saturday after several players suffered knocks and injuries, causing changes to the 35-man squad selected by Tuchel for the current international break brky.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic ‌Calvert-Lewin are among the departures, while defender John Stones returns to Manchester City after picking up an injury ahead of Friday’s match, while Adam ‌Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Noni Madueke (Arsenal) were both injured in the friendly.

Madueke’s Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have also returned to the north London club.

FIFA has expanded the squad size at this year’s World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada to 26 players. England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, starting against the Croatians in Arlington, Texas on June 17.

Published on March 29, 2026