World Cup 2026: Should Nico O’Reilly make the England squad?

Competition for places will be fierce when it comes to England's World Cup squad next summer. Thomas Tuchel will have some tough calls to make given how much talent he has to choose from.

One player who will be hoping to do enough to impress the Three Lions is Nico O'Reilly, who is enjoying a breakthrough season with Manchester City. Below I assess his chances of getting a seat on the plane.

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O'Reilly is a player who had been getting a lot of praise for his work in the City academy, with many saying touting him to be the next homegrown talent to shine for City.

Pep Guardiola clearly agrees as the youngster has been getting regular minutes this season in all competitions. The player came through the academy as a midfielder but he has been operating as a left-back this term for the senior side.

It's a position that City don't boast a lot of depth, and Guardiola likes to have technically capable players in the full-back positions - as we have seen midfielder Matheus Nunes cement his place at right-back.

Both have been performing well this season and when it comes to O'Reilly, his performances will no doubt have been catching the eye of Tuchel, particularly when left-back has been a troublesome position for the Three Lions in recent years.

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Under Gareth Southgate, England often deployed Kieran Trippier - a natural right-back - at left-back due to the lack of left-sided options. Right now, there are several candidates for Tuchel to consider.

O'Reilly is one, and then there are the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) and Lewis Hall (Newcastle), who are all natural left-backs.

Tino Livramento (Newcastle) and Djed Spence (Tottenham) are other examples of right-backs filling in on the left and both tend to get praise when playing out of position. Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham is someone who can play this role, which he often plays for the Cottagers to give them another attacking outlet on the pitch.

England World Cup 2026 Squad Odds

So there are quite a few players who could be competing for this spot in the squad and it won't be judged right now but in months down the line. Lewis-Skelly is currently finding game time limited at Arsenal and Tuchel has warned him that he needs to be playing regularly to bolster his World Cup chances.

O'Reilly is currently the main man at left-back for City, with summer arrival Rayan Ait-Nouri having to play second fiddle at this moment in time. This gives the 20-year-old a favourable chance of being a member of the England squad next summer.

He was handed his maiden Three Lions call-up in October following the withdrawal of Reece James (Chelsea), so he is clearly someone that Tuchel is paying attention to. The City star was then selected again for the latest camp in November and started both matches against Serbia and Albania.

O'Reilly has also been demonstrating his attacking capabilities with one goal and two assists in the Premier League. If he can add more throughout the campaign his chances of Tuchel picking him will only increase.