Jordan Henderson is back in an England World Cup squad, and this time it is for a fourth tournament. The midfielder said he feels honoured to have the chance after Thomas Tuchel selected him for the competition, restoring a veteran who had seemed to be drifting out of the international picture only two years ago.
Henderson has already played at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, starting 10 of his 11 appearances for England. He said representing his country has always meant everything to him and that he is grateful to be in position again, describing the last few years as a bit of a roller coaster and saying he has worked hard and made sacrifices to get back here.
The timing matters because England begin their World Cup campaign on June 17 against Croatia, with Ghana and Panama to follow in Group L. Tuchel will also take his squad through warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica in the United States before the tournament starts, giving Henderson a chance to turn selection into a role on the pitch.
That return carries extra weight because Henderson’s England career looked to be over in 2023, after he left Liverpool for Saudi Arabia and later joined Ajax, and he was then omitted from the Euro 2024 squad. A successful 2025-26 campaign with Brentford helped change that picture, with the club finishing ninth in the Premier League and missing out on the European places on goal difference.
What remains unresolved is how Tuchel will use him once the tournament begins. Henderson said his focus is the same as ever: to be the best version of himself, help the team on and off the pitch, and give everything to make people back home proud. For a player whose England future once looked finished, the next step is not the call-up. It is proving he still belongs in the games that matter most.
