England’s Journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

England midfielder Declan Rice has become essential for the national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He notably switched to right-back in the Round of 32 against DR Congo, a move he termed “the hardest 12 minutes of the game.” England triumphed with a 2-1 victory.

Prior to the quarterfinal, England manager Thomas Tuchel substituted Rice off before halftime during the match against Norway, which also ended in a 2-1 win for England. Tuchel later explained, “We had to take Elliot [Anderson] or Declan out, knowing that Declan struggled after spending most of the last three days in bed.” The coach emphasized that Rice couldn’t endure the full 90 minutes due to his condition.

Looking ahead, Rice is expected to contribute significantly when England faces Argentina in the semifinal on July 15. According to the Daily Mail, Rice is recovering well from a recent sickness and has rejoined team training. Despite some hamstring and back pain, the 27-year-old feels ready to begin the match in Atlanta.

England’s path to the semifinal has been challenging. In the Round of 16, they defeated Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, marking a pivotal win since the home team hadn’t lost there since 2013. The match against Norway in Miami proved equally tough, as the heat and humidity pushed the game into extra time. England captain Harry Kane remarked that the conditions were even tougher than those in Mexico.

The Three Lions now face the task of overcoming Lionel Messi and Argentina, the defending world champions, as they aim to secure their first World Cup title since 1966. Meanwhile, France and Spain will compete in the other semifinal. The World Cup final is set for Sunday, July 19.