England begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign tonight with a home clash against Albania at Wembley Stadium. This match marks the debut of new manager Thomas Tuchel, following Gareth Southgate’s departure after the 2024 European Championships. The Three Lions are obviously heavy favourites to secure a victory as they aim to top Group K, which also includes Serbia, Andorra, and Latvia.
Tuchel’s squad selection has raised eyebrows, with veteran Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford returning to the fold. England’s attacking lineup will likely be spearheaded by Harry Kane, who has an impressive record at Wembley, scoring 28 goals in 36 appearances. Kane will also look to continue his partnership with Tuchel, which flourished during their time together at Bayern Munich. However, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is unavailable due to injury.
Historically, England has dominated this fixture, winning all six previous encounters with Albania and outscoring them 19-1. Their last meeting in 2021 ended in a resounding 5-0 victory for England, with Kane netting a hat-trick. The Three Lions are unbeaten in their last 31 World Cup qualifiers, making them overwhelming favourites to extend this streak.
Albania, managed by Sylvinho, are ranked 65th globally and looking to rebuild after a mixed Nations League campaign and a group-stage exit at Euro 2024. Despite their underdog status, they have shown resilience against top teams like Croatia and Spain in recent tournaments. However, they will be without key players Elseid Hysaj and Mario Mitaj due to injuries.
Kick-off is at 7:45pm and a sold-out Wembley crowd will expect a strong start from Tuchel’s England. A comfortable home win seems likely as the Three Lions set their sights on World Cup glory.
Betfred have some great special prices for the game…
England HT / England FT, Harry Kane to Score at Anytime & Jude Bellingham to Score at Anytime – was 5/1 – Now 6/1
England to Win Both Halves, Phil Foden 1+ Shot on Target & Marcus Rashford 1+ Shot on Target – was 5/2 – Now 3/1
England to Score 3+ Goals, England 7+ Shots on Target & England 7+ Corners – was 3/1 – Now 7/2
Harry Kane to Score the First Goal – was 5/2 – Now 3/1
England to Win Both Halves – was 1/1 – Now 5/4
(prices correct at 11am 21.3.25)
