England vs Albania LIVE: Team news, line-ups and latest score

Thomas Tuchel’s reign as England manager begins on Friday night as the Three Lions host Albania at Wembley in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate as England head coach last October and his mission is clear – guide the Three Lions to victory at the World Cup next year.

But first, England must navigate their way out of Group K which also includes Serbia, Latvia and Andorra.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm and team news has dropped with Marcus Rashford earning his first start having missed out on a place in the squad at Euro 2024 last summer.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United’s Dan Burn and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly have been handed their England debuts.

Follow all the action LIVE with Metro…

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Pinned Update March 21, 2025 6:22 pm

England starting XI confirmed

Thomas Tuchel’s first England line-up has been confirmed:

Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Bellingham, Jones; Foden, Rashford, Kane (c)

Subs: Trafford, James, Guehi, Henderson, Colwill, Eze, Rogers, Gordon, Solanke, Bowen, Livramento

March 21, 2025 7:35 pm

Familiar faces on Albania’s bench

Albania coach Pablo Zabaleta (right) and head coach Syvio Mendes Campos Junior during a training session at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Thursday March 20, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Albania. Photo credit should read Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. — Albania head coach Sylvinho with his assistant Pablo Zabaleta (PA)

Albania’s head coach is the former Arsenal left-back Sylvinho.

Meanwhile, his assistant is former Manchester City and Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta.

March 21, 2025 7:20 pm

England out for the warm-up

Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group K - England v Albania - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 21, 2025 England's Dean Henderson during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge — Jordan Henderson is on the bench for England (Reuters)

England’s players are out at Wembley warming up. A reminder that kick-off is at 7.45pm.

March 21, 2025 7:11 pm

Walker pre-match interview

Kyle Walker on England’s first week with Thomas Tuchel as manager…

‘It’s been good, it’s exciting, obviously it’s a new era, it’s a new era of English football,’ Walker said.

‘I fully enjoyed it under Gareth, we had many great memories, gone far in a lot of tournaments but now it’s turn the page and start again.

‘I think he [Tuchel] wants a high intensity game of football – I think the lads he’s picked tonight shows that.

‘He wants energy and he wants us top go and be exiting but it’s also about being smart as well. We’re here to win football matches, we don’t want it to be 6-6, it’s an exciting game but we want a win at the end of the day.’

March 21, 2025 7:01 pm

Where England went wrong?

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) — Thomas Tuchel says England lacked ‘identity’ and ‘clarity’ at Euro 2024 (Getty)

Thomas Tuchel has been clear on what he thinks England lacked at Euro 2024 last summer.

Asked what was missing under Gareth Southgate, Tuchel told ITV: ‘The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns.

‘The freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger.

‘They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament, in my opinion, than having the excitement and hunger to win.’

March 21, 2025 6:50 pm

Burn starts

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Dan Burn of England arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) — Dan Burn starts for England’s clash with Albania at Wembley (The FA via Getty)

Not a bad few days for Dan Burn – scored Newcastle United’s opening goal in their Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool last Sunday and now he starts in defence for England’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifier.

March 21, 2025 6:41 pm

Two England debutants

EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or — Myles Lewis-Skelly starts at left-back for England (Shutterstock)

Arsenal’s 18-year-old left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle United defender Dan Burn have both been handed their England debuts tonight.

March 21, 2025 6:39 pm

Rashford returns

Marcus Rashford makes an immediate return as he is named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England XI.

The Aston Villa forward, on loan from Manchester United, failed to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 last summer but he has a huge opportunity to make an impact tonight.

March 21, 2025 6:36 pm