England’s strength in depth is almost unmatched. It’s probably only bettered by World Cup favourites France. What other country can afford to leave stars like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home without missing much of a beat?
Such is the competition for places among the Three Lions that many footballers who could play for England actually represent other countries instead. Some of those are personal choices, some are more down to the quality of their positional rivals, some due to closer ties with those other nations, and more often than not they are a combination of all three.
You can actually make an alternative (and functional) England XI out of players who are at this World Cup, but not in Thomas Tuchel’s squad. Don’t believe us? Have a gander for yourself…
Owen Goodman – goalkeeper
It was a struggle to find another goalkeeper at this World Cup who could technically have played for England, but we just about got there (in a more perfect world, David Raya signs for Blackburn Rovers a couple of years earlier to gain British citizenship, but I guess that’s asking too much).
Having sifted through all 47 other nations, Crystal Palace prospect Owen Goodman is the only player who fits the bill. The 22-year-old played for Canada and England’s youth sides, though eventually revealed his dream to represent the World Cup co-hosts last summer.
However, head coach Jesse Marsch initially believed Goodman, who lived in Canada from the ages of five to 13, could not be called up due to concerns over his citizenship. The process to resolve this issue started and finished in late 2025, paving the way for Goodman to join the Canadian setup.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – right-back
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was once part of a young British core at Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. When he was signed for £50m from Crystal Palace in 2019, he was expected to break into the England squad.
Alas, he only ever earned one call-up, and stiff competition from the likes of Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Kieran Trippier meant Wan-Bissaka never played for the Three Lions.
Wan-Bissaka was wooed by DR Congo for half a decade before deciding to ratify his switch of international allegiance in 2025, just in time to help them secure World Cup qualification. It’s ironic that he played so well in their eventual last-32 defeat to England.
Axel Tuanzebe – centre-back
If injuries hadn’t hampered Axel Tuanzebe’s career, he may very well have fulfilled his potential and become an England regular. He was highly rated coming out of United’s academy system and was tipped to captain the first team, though fitness worries made it difficult for him to play for the Red Devils on a regular basis.
Tuanzebe moved to England from DR Congo as an infant and was a regular in the Young Lions teams. But after growing out of those age groups, he failed to even knock on the door of the England team and, like Wan-Bissaka would a year later, locked in DR Congo as his national side.
Kevin Danso – centre-back
Kevin Danso’s Ghanaian parents decided to emigrate to Milton Keynes from Austria, the country of his birth, when he was six. He came through the Dons’ academy and made the switch to Germany with Augsburg at 16.
This multiculturalism still embodies Danso to this day. He told L’Equipe: “I arrived in England when I was six years old. I could have played for England. I lived there for 10 years before going to Augsburg. And it’s strange, sometimes I feel more English than anything else, but sometimes more Austrian or more Ghanaian as well. I am happy to have this multiculturality, it allows me to be who I am.”
Austria were aware of Danso even when still with MK Dons, capping him at U15 level and fast-tracking him into the senior side in 2017 while still a teenager.
Antonee Robinson – left-back
Another son of Milton Keynes is left-back Antonee Robinson, now one of America’s best players thanks to his father earning citizenship having lived in New York.
Between Championship spells at Bolton and Wigan, Robinson earned a call-up to the United States senior side, while England were only offering an U21 berth. He picked the USMNT and has now represented them at three tournaments, all the while the Three Lions have cycled through a host of left-backs.
Michael Olise – right wing
Michael Olise has said he hails “from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and England.” Despite that, there was only one choice in his heart: “I have always had a connection with the France national team, that is why I play for France.”
It didn’t stop the FA from trying to change his mind. After all, Olise was born in Hammersmith Hospital and grew up in the Greater London suburb of Hayes, previously home to other English geniuses such as Glenn Hoddle and Ray Wilkins.
Obviously, it’s hard to get on a foreign radar when you’re still just a kid, so Olise’s mother is said to have sent tapes of him to the French Football Federation, eventually landing on the desk of a youth coach. In 2019, Olise was called up by France’s U18s, finally breaking into Les Bleus’ setup.
Jamal Musiala – midfield
Bayern Munich wizard Jamal Musiala was born in Germany and plays for Germany. That should be case open and closed there, right?
Well, it’s not that simple. Musiala’s father is part-British and their family moved to England when he was seven, joining the academies of Southampton and then Chelsea. He quickly found his way in the England youth setup, starring alongside future Three Lions in Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Noni Madueke.
The tide started to turn against England when Musiala’s family relocated back to Germany during his late teenage years, with Bayern Munich acquiring him from Chelsea. Days prior to his 19th birthday, Musiala announced he wanted to represent Germany at senior level. Even before turning 24, he has amassed 46 caps, is one of few flair players in Die Mannschaft’s ranks and will no doubt be a favourite under Jurgen Klopp (head coach’s job pending).
Scott McTominay – midfield
For many years, there were few England supporters rueing missing out on Scott McTominay to their Scottish neighbours north of the border. That sentiment may have flipped over the last couple of seasons.
At Manchester United, McTominay was an industrious if unspectacular squad option. It probably explains why Scotland went all-in with their pitch, whereas Gareth Southgate is said to have only sent him a text.
McTominay took his talents to Napoli in 2024 and announced himself as one of Europe’s leading box-crashing midfielders. It’s not a position or profile the Three Lions are lacking in, though he would have been a handy option for Tuchel to bring on from the bench, right?
Antoine Semenyo – left wing
When Ghana were dumped out of the 2010 World Cup in cruel fashion by Uruguay, they inadvertently left a lasting mark on Antoine Semenyo, whose Ghanaian family were left devastated by the result.
Up until his January transfer to Manchester City, almost all of Semenyo’s life was spent in the south of England. He had unsuccessful trials at Arsenal, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Millwall before heading west to Bristol City, developing into a fine all-round forward in the Championship.
Impressive performances across 2022 saw Ghana swoop in and pip England to the post before securing a Premier League move to Bournemouth. Had he emerged as more of an obvious talent earlier, the Black Stars may have had more of a fight to contend for his loyalties.
Folarin Balogun – forward
There’s been a lot of hullabaloo about Folarin Balogun of late, and you can’t really blame him for that. His red card for the USMNT against Bosnia was accidental, and the furore started by Donald Trump to suspend his ban to face Belgium was out of his hands.
Even despite that humiliating exit to Belgium, Balogun has become a favourite in the States for his other contributions at this World Cup, ending the tournament with three goals.
But Balogun could have very easily represented another nation, while it’s down to a row over flights that he was even able to play for the US in the first place. His Nigerian parents visited New York while his mother was seven months pregnant, and she was not able to board a return flight to their home in London. Balogun earned American citizenship by birthright, and in 2023, he switched allegiances from England to the US. Given there is no clear successor to Kane, the FA may well regret not tying the Arsenal academy graduate down to their regime.
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Erling Haaland – forward
You probably already know that Erling Haaland was eligible to represent England, given the topic has been discussed ad nauseum ever since he returned to the country in 2023 when signing for Manchester City.
Indeed, Haaland was born in Leeds while his father, Alf-Inge, still played for the Elland Road side, and the future striker was raised as a fan of the Whites. Thus, there was a possibility that Haaland and Harry Kane could have joined forces at international level, though he insists he always had his sights set on representing Norway instead.
“It was natural for me to choose Norway,” Haaland said. “You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don’t know. But yeah, I’m Norwegian and I’m proud of it.”
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