England's Right Back Options for the 2026 World Cup-Ranked
Of all the positions in Thomas Tuchel's England squad, right back is perhaps where the German has the fewest top-tier options.
While the midfield and wide attacking areas are stacked-so much so that Tuchel was forced to leave out players like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer-at right back he has selected a small group of genuine options for this summer's World Cup, two of which represent significant gambles due to recent injury records.
Here, we rank England's right back options for this summer's tournament, assess what each player brings to the team, and also take a look at some of those who narrowly missed out.
Notable Omissions
Trent Alexander-Arnold missing out on the 2026 World Cup would have seemed unfathomable a year or so ago-with the former Liverpool man widely regarded as one of the best right backs of his generation thanks to his elite passing range and crossing ability, despite lingering questions over his defensive frailties.
His move to Real Madrid, however, has changed that narrative. What was supposed to be a career-defining transfer has turned into something of a nightmare, with the England international struggling for consistent starts and those well-documented defensive issues coming under an even harsher spotlight in the pressure cooker environment of the Santiago Bernabéu.
Injuries certainly haven't helped, but few will be surprised he didn't make the final cut.
Elsewhere, Ben White and Rico Lewis were perhaps the next-best alternatives among those who missed out, but in truth neither did enough over the course of the season to force their way into Tuchel's plans.
3. Tino Livramento
Tino Livramento is an intriguing option for England-and for Tuchel-in more ways than one.
First, there is his natural attacking instinct. Livramento loves to burst forward, overlapping at pace and delivering dangerous crosses into the box-traits that, on paper, make him a strong fit for Tuchel's preferred style of play. Crucially, he is also no liability defensively, offering a well-rounded presence on the flank.
Second, he is genuinely comfortable on both sides, having alternated between right back and left back duties for Newcastle during Lewis Hall's injury absence.
What makes him something of a risk, however, is his own fitness record. The former Chelsea youngster has suffered with a range of issues this term-including knee, hamstring and thigh problems-missing a large portion of the campaign, meaning Tuchel will likely have to manage his minutes carefully at the tournament.
2. Djed Spence
Djed Spence has, for the most part, been used at left back by Tottenham-but it is worth remembering that his initial breakthrough in the Championship came as a flying right back.
He has still featured on the right in recent times, but his dwindling minutes at Tottenham Hotspur as the 2025–26 season progressed, alongside managerial changes, seemed to suggest he would miss out on Tuchel's World Cup squad.
The German, however, has made it clear why he has been included.
"He brings something that we don't have-his profile," he said on Spence's inclusion. "He loves defending, he is the fastest player in our squad and he loves defending one-vs-ones. That makes him stand out. On top of that, he can play both sides."
1. Reece James
Reece James's biggest obstacle isn't an opponent-it's his own body. Injuries have repeatedly derailed his progress over the years, costing him a place at Euro 2024 and keeping him out for large chunks of Chelsea's domestic campaigns.
When fit, though, there are few more complete fullbacks in world soccer. James combines raw power with refined technique, making him a constant threat going forward and a nightmare to beat defensively. Add in his danger from set pieces, and you have a defender with the full package.
Tuchel knows exactly how to get the best out of James from their time together at Chelsea, and he will be eager to replicate that at international level with England. However, with injury problems once again surfacing in the final stretches of the 2025–26 campaign, there remains a significant risk that his availability-and therefore his impact-could be limited.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 10:04 AM.