Reece James returns for the match against Norway.
According to The Sun, Reece James completed a full training session with his teammates at England's Swope Soccer Village training ground, marking significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Previously, the 1999-born defender had been sidelined for three consecutive matches for the Three Lions against Panama, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mexico.
Although the England coaching staff has not confirmed whether James will start or be used from the bench in the match against Norway, the fact that he was able to participate fully in training suggests a high probability of him featuring in the match in Miami. This is particularly important information for coach Thomas Tuchel, as the England defense is currently suffering from numerous personnel losses.
Conversely, England will certainly be without Jarell Quansah. The 23-year-old center-back was sent off in the 3-2 victory against Mexico, and FIFA subsequently extended his suspension, meaning he will continue to miss the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup if England beat Norway. This forces manager Tuchel to reconsider his defensive options.
It is likely that Djed Spence will be given a chance at right-back, while Reece James could be a backup option or brought on depending on the match situation. Previously, England also lost Tino Livramento to injury just before the World Cup began, significantly narrowing their options at full-back.
Declan Rice and Marc Guehi were absent from the team's most recent training session. However, this is believed to be a measure to reduce their workload, and both are still expected to be fit enough to start in the match against Norway.
According to the plan, the England team will travel to Miami before the match and have a training session at Inter Miami's training center to finalize their preparations for what is expected to be a very difficult encounter.
Reece James' return comes at a crucial time when England's defense faces the ultimate challenge in the form of Erling Haaland . The Norwegian striker is in explosive form, having scored 7 goals in 4 matches at the 2026 World Cup, playing a major role in helping the Nordic team reach the quarter-finals for the first time in history.