As England prepares to take on Albania in a crucial World Cup 2026 qualifier, all eyes are on Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions as they look to continue their unbeaten run. The match at Wembley Stadium promises an exciting contest, with Albania eager to pull off a surprise.
After a commanding 3-0 victory over Poland in their previous match, England sits comfortably at the top of their qualification group. With the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka in red-hot form, the hosts are expected to dominate possession and create plenty of attacking chances.
Meanwhile, Albania, who have been steadily improving under coach Sylvinho, will rely on their defensive discipline and counter-attacking football to trouble England. The visitors will be looking to Armando Broja and Nedim Bajrami to provide a spark in attack.
With kick-off approaching, here are the latest updates, team news, and key highlights as England faces Albania in their journey to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Starting Lineups: England vs Albania
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England XI (4-2-3-1):
๐ฌ๐ง GK โ Jordan Pickford
๐ฌ๐ง RB โ Kyle Walker
๐ฌ๐ง CB โ John Stones
๐ฌ๐ง CB โ Harry Maguire
๐ฌ๐ง LB โ Ben Chilwell
๐ฌ๐ง CM โ Declan Rice
๐ฌ๐ง CM โ Jude Bellingham
๐ฌ๐ง RW โ Bukayo Saka
๐ฌ๐ง CAM โ Phil Foden
๐ฌ๐ง LW โ Jack Grealish
๐ฌ๐ง ST โ Harry Kane (C)
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Albania XI (4-3-3):
๐ฆ๐ฑ GK โ Thomas Strakosha
๐ฆ๐ฑ RB โ Elseid Hysaj
๐ฆ๐ฑ CB โ Berat Djimsiti
๐ฆ๐ฑ CB โ Marash Kumbulla
๐ฆ๐ฑ LB โ Mario Mitaj
๐ฆ๐ฑ CM โ Ylber Ramadani
๐ฆ๐ฑ CM โ Kristjan Asllani
๐ฆ๐ฑ CM โ Nedim Bajrami
๐ฆ๐ฑ RW โ Armando Broja
๐ฆ๐ฑ ST โ Sokol Cikalleshi
๐ฆ๐ฑ LW โ Myrto Uzuni
Kick-Off: England Dominates Early Possession
- ๐ 1โ โ The referee blows the whistle, and weโre underway at Wembley! England, wearing their traditional white kit, starts by controlling possession and looking to break down Albaniaโs defensive shape.
- ๐ 5โ โ Jude Bellingham showcases his strength in midfield, shrugging off his marker before playing a crisp pass to Bukayo Saka, who wins England’s first corner of the match.
- ๐ 10โ โ โฝ GOOOAL! ENGLAND 1-0 ALBANIA (Harry Kane, 10โ)
Harry Kane does what he does best! A brilliant cross from Phil Foden finds Kane unmarked in the box, and the captain buries a clinical header past Strakosha. England takes an early lead! - ๐ 15โ โ Albania struggles to get out of their own half, with England pressing high and winning the ball back quickly. Declan Rice dictates the tempo, while Bellingham and Foden combine well in attacking areas.
Mid-First Half: England in Total Control
- ๐ 25โ โ England continues to probe. Bukayo Saka beats his defender and delivers a low cross, but the Albanian defense clears just in time before Kane can tap it in.
- ๐ 30โ โ Albania finally registers a shot on target. Armando Broja races behind Englandโs defense but is denied by a sharp save from Jordan Pickford.
- ๐ 35โ โ โฝ GOOOAL! ENGLAND 2-0 ALBANIA (Jude Bellingham, 35โ)
What a goal from Jude Bellingham! The Real Madrid star picks up the ball outside the box, weaves past two defenders, and curls a beautiful shot into the bottom corner. England extends their lead! - ๐ 40โ โ Yellow Card (Albania) โ Elseid Hysaj is booked for a late challenge on Jack Grealish. England is awarded a free kick just outside the box, but Phil Fodenโs effort sails over the bar.
Halftime: England Leads 2-0, Albania Struggles to Respond
๐ข HALF-TIME โ England heads into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Albania will need a big second-half performance if they want to mount a comeback.
Second Half: Albania Tries to Fight Back
- ๐ 46โ โ Albania makes a substitution as Taulant Seferi replaces Sokol Cikalleshi in an attempt to inject more attacking energy.
- ๐ 50โ โ England remains in control, with Declan Rice and Kyle Walker ensuring Albania gets no space to counter.
- ๐ 55โ โ Albaniaโs best chance! Myrto Uzuni finds himself in a one-on-one situation with Pickford, but his shot goes just wide. A huge let-off for England!
Final 30 Minutes: England Pushes for More Goals
- ๐ 60โ โ England substitution: Marcus Rashford replaces Jack Grealish to add more pace on the left wing.
- ๐ 65โ โ โฝ GOOOAL! ENGLAND 3-0 ALBANIA (Bukayo Saka, 65โ)
A sensational team goal! A quick one-two between Foden and Rashford sets up Saka, who smashes the ball into the net from a tight angle. England is running away with it! - ๐ 70โ โ England is now playing with confidence and flair. The home crowd is enjoying the performance as chants of โItโs Coming Homeโ echo around Wembley.
Closing Moments: England Seals the Victory
- ๐ 80โ โ England substitution: Conor Gallagher replaces Declan Rice as Tuchel looks to manage minutes.
- ๐ 85โ โ Albania appears to have run out of ideas. Englandโs defense remains compact, with John Stones and Harry Maguire winning every aerial duel.
- ๐ 90โ โ The referee adds three minutes of stoppage time.
- ๐ 90+2โ โ FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 3-0 ALBANIA
A dominant display from England as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka get on the scoresheet. The Three Lions take another huge step toward qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Post-Match Reactions
- ๐๏ธ Harry Kane: โA fantastic team performance. We knew Albania would try to defend deep, but we stuck to our game plan and got the result we wanted.โ
- ๐๏ธ Thomas Tuchel: โThe boys were brilliant tonight. We controlled the game, took our chances, and kept a clean sheet. Thatโs exactly what we need going forward.โ
- ๐๏ธ Sylvinho (Albania Coach): โEngland was the better team today. We have a lot to learn, but Iโm proud of the fight we showed.โ
Whatโs Next for England?
With another convincing victory, England now shifts focus to their next World Cup qualifier. The Three Lions are on track to secure an early ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Stay tuned for more live updates, breaking news, and in-depth analysis on Englandโs road to the World Cup 2026! ๐
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