The high-profile International Friendly match between England vs Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026, with kick-off at 7:45 PM GMT. It is part of England’s World Cup send-off series, and it comes at a key point in Thomas Tuchel’s build-up to the tournament.
Both England and Uruguay Suqad have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is also the first meeting between the two sides since the 2014 World Cup, when Uruguay won 2-1.
England’s camp has already seen some squad movement. Tuchel named a 35-man squad for the Uruguay and Japan friendlies, then made late adjustments as Eberechi Eze was ruled out with a calf injury and Ben White plus Harvey Barnes were added.
Harry Maguire was also recalled, while England’s squad is being split across the two matches so Tuchel can evaluate more players before the World Cup.
Uruguay arrive under Marcelo Bielsa and with Federico Valverde as the main reference point in a new-look side.
England’s official match center names Bielsa as coach and José María Giménez as captain, while FIFA’s team profile indicates that Valverde is now leading Uruguay’s squad following the retirements of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez.
Uruguay also came in after a heavy 5-1 loss to the USA, with Bielsa urging calm after that result.
England vs Uruguay Match Info, Date, Time, Predictions, Lineups & More
- Match: England vs Uruguay
- Competition: International Friendly
- Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
- Kick-off time: 7:45 p.m. GMT (2:45 p.m. ET; 1:15 a.m. IST, Friday and 6:45 a.m. AEDT, Friday)
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
- Referee: Sven Jablonski (Germany)
- VAR: Sören Storks (Germany)
Team News and Analysis
For England, the names to watch are Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, Ben White, Morgan Rogers, and Jarrod Bowen.
England’s official squad list also includes Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Lewis-Skelly, Elliot Anderson, Jarell Quansah, Ollie Watkins and others, giving Tuchel plenty of options.
- Thomas Tuchel has a near-full-strength squad available.
- Key players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, and Declan Rice are all expected to start.
- No major injuries reported in the latest squad announcement. England have been in excellent form, winning their last four internationals.
For Uruguay, the main threats are Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and José María Giménez. FIFA describes Valverde as the key reference point for the side, and England’s match centre confirms Giménez’s leadership role at the back.
- Coach Marcelo Bielsa has named a strong squad including several Europe-based stars.
- Darwin Núñez, Federico Valverde, Luis Suárez (if selected), and Ronald Araújo are all available.
- Uruguay are coming off solid results in South American friendlies and will look to play a high-intensity, pressing game.
Head-to-Head Record
The last time these two sides met was at the 2014 World Cup, where Uruguay won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Luis Suárez.
| Total Meetings | England Wins | Draws | Uruguay Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
England vs Uruguay Starting XI
This is a best-guess projection based on England’s current squad and Tuchel’s squad split, not a confirmed lineup.
- England Starting XI vs Uruguay (4-2-3-1): Dean Henderson; Ben White, Harry Maguire, Marc Guéhi, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon; Ollie Watkins.
- Rested, so unavailable: D Henderson, Burn, Guehi, Konsa, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Rogers, Gordon, Kane, Saka, Bellingham (The following players are part of the group given a break by Tuchel and will only feature against Japan on 31 March)
- Uruguay Starting XI vs England (4-3-3): Sergio Rochet; Nahitan Nández, Ronald Araújo, José María Giménez, Mathías Olivera; Manuel Ugarte, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur; Facundo Pellistri, Darwin Núñez, Maximiliano Araújo.
- Uruguay is expected to name a strong, competitive side under Marcelo Bielsa.
Key Players
- England: Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, Ben White, Morgan Rogers, and Jarrod Bowen.
- Uruguay: Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and José María Giménez.
Match Prediction (England vs Uruguay)
England should have the stronger depth and the home advantage, especially with their recent defensive record.
England’s match centre says they have kept 11 clean sheets in their last 12 games, while Uruguay are still regrouping after that loss to the USA. Uruguay are dangerous enough to score, but England look more balanced on paper.
- Prediction: England 2-1 Uruguay.
Where to Watch England vs Uruguay
- USA: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX or fuboTV
- UK: ITV or BBC (check listings)
- Global: FIFA+ or local broadcasters Highlights will be available on YouTube and official national team channels shortly after full time.
When is England vs Uruguay?
Friday, March 27, 2026.
What time does it kick off?
7:45 PM GMT.
Where is the match being played?
Wembley Stadium in London.
Who is coaching Uruguay?
Marcelo Bielsa.
Are England and Uruguay qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Yes, both teams have secured World Cup 2026 tickets. It is a World Cup warm-up friendly for both teams, with England using it as part of their final home preparations before Tuchel names his World Cup squad in May.
