England’s national team for the 2026 World Cup features two FC Barcelona players: Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford. Gordon, recently signed by Barcelona, featured in the second half of the friendly against New Zealand, showing activity both going forward and defensively.
Gordon displayed high passing accuracy and attempted shots from outside the box while contributing to pressing and ball recovery. Despite competition within the squad, especially from Rashford as the expected starting left winger, Gordon proved he is ready to earn playing time and impact results.
For Barcelona, Gordon’s involvement with the national team means increased workload but also valuable international experience that can benefit his club career. The New Zealand friendly highlighted coach Thomas Tuchel’s strategy of rotating players and managing minutes to enhance their physical condition ahead of the tournament.
England aims to contend for the World Cup title, and Barcelona will closely follow how their players perform, as the experience could translate into further contributions at the club level.
