World Cup 2026: Reece James to miss England's next two games with hamstring Injury

England right-back Reece James will miss at least the next two World Cup matches as he fights to recover from a hamstring injury, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel with limited options in the position.

The Chelsea captain reported tightness after England's 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. He did not train with the squad in Kansas City on Friday and will miss Saturday's final group game against Panama, as well as the last-32 tie that could follow.

James has a history of hamstring issues, having sustained a setback playing for Chelsea against Newcastle on 14 March that kept him out for nearly two months. Tuchel considers him his first-choice right-back and had relied on him for 90 minutes against both Croatia and Ghana.

However, there was always an element of risk given how James has to have his minutes managed and the congested nature of the World Cup. England hope to play eight matches in 33 days during their stay in North America.

The injury leaves Tuchel with a headache in the right-back position. He had selected Tino Livramento as his backup, only to lose the Newcastle player on the eve of the tournament to a calf injury. The manager responded by calling up Chelsea centre-half Trevoh Chalobah and suggesting that Jarell Quansah, a central defender by trade, could cover at right-back.

Tuchel's other options are Ezri Konsa, also a centre-half, and Djed Spence. Notably, he opted against calling up Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player he does not appear to trust. Tuchel has only selected Alexander-Arnold for one camp, in June of last year.

The loss of James is a significant blow for England, who have already seen their defensive options stretched. With the knockout stages looming, Tuchel will need to find a solution to ensure his defence remains solid.

For England, the focus now shifts to securing top spot in Group L and preparing for the challenges ahead.

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