Nico O'Reilly has moved from breakout season to World Cup squad member, and he says the step still feels unreal. England open their Group L campaign against Croatia on Wednesday night, with the Manchester City youngster saying the tournament is something he has dreamed about since he was a kid.
“It’s unbelievable,” O'Reilly said. “It’s a dream come true. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid and for it to come true now, obviously I’m still young, I can’t wait to get started.”
That call-up comes after a season in which he made 53 appearances in all competitions, scored 9 goals and added 6 assists. He also earned his first England cap last season, a sign that his rise has moved quickly from promise to genuine international relevance.
His form mattered at decisive moments too. O'Reilly scored a brace in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in last season’s Carabao Cup final, and he was part of a run in which his influence grew across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Those numbers help explain why he is now being talked about as more than a squad filler for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
There is, though, one detail still left open. O'Reilly is expected to be used at left-back against Croatia and can step into midfield when needed, but the starting lineup has not been confirmed. That leaves England with one of the squad’s most improved young players on the edge of a major debut, even before the 2026 World Cup campaign has properly begun.
For O'Reilly, the next test is immediate. England’s opening Group L fixture against Croatia will show whether his rise at Manchester City translates into a starting role on the biggest stage, or whether his first World Cup starts with a place on the team sheet still waiting to be finalised.
