England have been handed a massive boost as star defender Reece James is reportedly in contention to feature in their clash against Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
James started and played the full 90 minutes in the Three Lions' first two games of the World Cup - a 4-2 win over Croatia and a 0-0 draw against Ghana. However, for the game against Panama (2-0 win), he was dropped from the squad due to a hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old was named on the bench for England's Round of 32 clash against DR Congo, a game in which Thomas Tuchel's side rallied from 1-0 down to win 2-1. With scans ongoing to determine the extent of his injury, there has been an air of uncertainty surrounding his involvement in his nation's Round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico.
A recent report from talkSPORT (via @DeadlineDayLive on X) has provided a positive update in that regard. The report has revealed that the scan results on James' hamstring injury have come back positive and he is in contention to play.
In the absence of the Chelsea man, England have experimented with Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah at right-back. With him coming back in, Tuchel will likely play his preferred starting back-line - James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly - against Mexico.
Despite their shaky performance against DR Congo, England's hopes are still alive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a star-studded squad at his disposal, Tuchel is hoping to bring the trophy back to the island nation for the first time in 60 years.
"I feel as good as I've ever felt" - England captain Harry Kane makes claim after win vs DR Congo at 2026 FIFA World Cup
England skipper Harry Kane has claimed that he is really enjoying his football at the moment.
With five goals in four games thus far, Kane is one of the front-runners to win the Golden Boot award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His best performance came in the Three Lions' Round of 32 clash against DR Congo, in which he almost single-handedly dragged his side out of a hole.
After conceding an early goal (7'), the 1966 World Cup champions trailed until the 75th minute when Kane nodded Anthony Gordon's cross into the net. 11 minutes later, his vicious right-footed shot whizzed past DR Congo shotstopper Lionel Mpasi and turned out to be the game-winning goal.
The strike was Kane's 72nd for club (Bayern Munich) and country in the 2025-26 season, the second-most prolific campaign in history (behind Lionel Messi's 82-goal season in 2011-12). Speaking on the latest episode of The Lion's Den, the 32-year-old said (via ESPN):
"I've had some good moments but in terms of how I feel right now, I think just from an overall package, I feel as good as I've ever felt going onto the pitch."
Up next, Kane will be seen in action in England's Round of 16 clash against Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday (July 5).