Arsenal and England defender Ben White
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal defender Ben White could make a long-awaited return to the England national team, withThe Mirror reporting that new manager Thomas Tuchel is considering the 27-year-old for next month’s World Cup qualifying double-header against Andorra and Serbia.
White has not featured for the Three Lions since March 2022, with his international career stalling after his departure from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to personal reasons, reportedly following a disagreement with then-assistant coach Steve Holland. Under Gareth Southgate, White ruled himself out of selection and was also overlooked by interim boss Lee Carsley.
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Tuchel’s arrival in January 2025, however, has opened the door for a fresh start. The German coach has promised a “clean slate” for sidelined players, name-checking White alongside Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. He was in attendance at Old Trafford to watch White impress during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Manchester United on the opening weekend of the Premier League.
Ben White
Ben White (Image credit: Getty Images)
“I will reach out to him. It should be a clean start and a clear narrative,” Tuchel said back in December, before taking charge. White’s form since recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for four months last season has strengthened his case, with the defender starting in Arsenal’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg against PSV and proving his ability both at right-back and centre-back.
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The Arsenal star has also confirmed his willingness to return to international duty. “I’m definitely available,” White told The Mirror in May, describing Tuchel as “such a nice, nice man, very honest.”
England face Andorra on September 7 and Serbia three days later as part of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. While competition for defensive places remains fierce with Reece James, Kyle Walker, and Tino Livramento all in contention, White’s versatility and experience could prove valuable as Tuchel shapes a squad to challenge for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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