England manager Thomas Tuchel names Guehi and Spence in starting XI against Ghana

England have something to play for at Gillette Stadium on June 23, and Thomas Tuchel is making changes to get it. The England manager has named Marc Guehi and Djed Spence in his starting lineup for the Group L fixture against Ghana, with a place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the line.

What Tuchel is working with

England arrived in Foxborough, Massachusetts off the back of a 4-2 victory over Croatia on June 17, a result that announced their tournament intentions with some volume.

Guehi wasn’t in the starting XI for that opener. He came off the bench late in the match and, apparently, did enough to earn himself a place in the first eleven for the Ghana fixture.

Tuchel has been England’s head coach since January 2025, with his contract extended through UEFA Euro 2028 as recently as February 2026.

Djed Spence also earns a starting berth against Ghana.

England’s Group L includes Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. With the Croatia result already banked, a win over Ghana would mean the knockout rounds are secured before the final group game even kicks off.

The stakes in Boston

The match is being played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which sits just outside Boston and is better known as the home of the New England Patriots.

Ghana, for their part, are not a side England can afford to treat as a formality. The Black Stars have a history of tournament football and have produced some memorable World Cup moments, including their run to the quarterfinals in South Africa in 2010.

What this means for England’s tournament

Tuchel took the England job in January 2025 after a period of significant transition for the national team, built across his tenures at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.

For Guehi, the starting spot against Ghana is a meaningful step. The Crystal Palace defender has been part of the England setup for some time and represents the kind of composed, ball-playing center-back that fits Tuchel’s preferred defensive structure.

A victory locks up England’s spot in the next round and allows Tuchel to potentially rotate more freely against Panama in the final group game.

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