The numbers
England will kick off their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27 at 7:45 p.m. GMT. This match marks an important step for both teams as they gear up for the global tournament.
England boasts a strong squad of 35 players, including key figures like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice. The Three Lions are riding high, having won their last six international matches. Coach Thomas Tuchel praised Harry Maguire’s return to form, stating, “Harry simply deserves it. He has had very, very good performances and fantastic results.” Maguire is back in the squad after an 18-month absence.
On the other side, Uruguay will field a competitive lineup featuring 134-cap goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and star midfielder Federico Valverde. The last encounter between these two teams was at the 2014 World Cup, where Uruguay edged out England with a 2-1 victory. This match will be a chance for England to avenge that defeat.
England’s starting XI is expected to include Trafford, Livramento, Maguire, Tomori, Spence, Garner, Henderson, Foden, Rashford, Madueke, and Solanke. Meanwhile, Uruguay will likely start with Muslera, Varela, R. Araujo, Olivera, Piquerez, Ugarte, Valverde, De Arrascaeta, Canobbio, M. Araujo, and Aguirre.
Ben White returns to the national team setup for the first time since 2022, replacing the injured Jarrell Quansah. Harvey Barnes has also been called up in place of Eberechi Eze, who withdrew due to injury.
Kick-off times are set for 3:45 p.m. ET and 6:45 a.m. AEDT, making it accessible for fans across various time zones. The match will be broadcast on ITV1 in the UK and SonyLiv in India.
Referee Sven Jablonski from Germany will officiate the match, adding another layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated encounter. Observers expect a fierce competition as both teams look to solidify their strategies ahead of the World Cup.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to the squads, but the excitement surrounding this match is palpable as England and Uruguay prepare to clash once again on the pitch.
