The numbers
England will kick off their World Cup preparations with a friendly match against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. GMT. This encounter marks an important step for both teams as they gear up for the prestigious tournament.
In the lead-up to this match, England has been in impressive form, winning their last six international matches. Coach Thomas Tuchel has expressed confidence in his squad, particularly highlighting the return of Harry Maguire after an 18-month absence from the national team. “Harry simply deserves it. He has, especially since Michael Carrick took over, had very, very good performances and fantastic results and is a key figure in the Man United squad who is now in third place and on a very good run of form,” Tuchel stated.
England’s squad for this match includes 35 players, with notable names such as Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham. The starting XI is set to feature Trafford, Livramento, Maguire, Tomori, Spence, Garner, Henderson, Foden, Rashford, Madueke, and Solanke. Additionally, Ben White returns to the national team setup for the first time since 2022, replacing the injured Jarrell Quansah, while Harvey Barnes has been called up in place of Eberechi Eze, who withdrew due to injury.
Uruguay, on the other hand, will look to build on their past success against England, having won their last encounter 2-1 during the 2014 World Cup. Their lineup will include experienced goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who boasts 134 caps, and rising star Federico Valverde. The starting XI for Uruguay is expected to feature Muslera, Varela, R. Araujo, Olivera, Piquerez, Ugarte, Valverde, De Arrascaeta, Canobbio, M. Araujo, and Aguirre.
As the match approaches, observers are keen to see how both teams will perform. With England’s recent winning streak and Uruguay’s historical edge, the game promises to be a competitive affair. The referee for the match will be Sven Jablonski from Germany, adding another layer of intrigue to this international friendly.
Kick-off times for the match are set for 3:45 p.m. ET and 6:45 a.m. AEDT, making it accessible for fans across different time zones. The match will be broadcast on ITV1 in the UK and SonyLiv in India, ensuring that supporters can follow the action live.
As the teams prepare for this friendly, the focus will be on how they can refine their strategies ahead of the World Cup. England’s strong squad depth and Uruguay’s experienced players will be key factors to watch. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to the lineups, but anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting clash at Wembley.
