England face Uruguay in an international friendly, with attention focused on Harry Kane. One of the most compelling clashes of the March international break features England and Uruguay. This will be one of the last matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Harry Kane is not expected to start.
The Bayern Munich striker, along with other squad stars such as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, are likely to feature in England’s second friendly during the March FIFA break, next Tuesday against Japan.
For Friday, however, head coach Thomas Tuchel plans to give players who have yet to secure their spot for the 2026 World Cup a chance to compete against a strong opponent like Uruguay and prove their worth for the 26-man roster.
On the other side, Uruguay likely face their final major test before traveling to North America. Coach Marcelo Bielsa, known for his demanding style, will aim for his team to perform at the highest level against one of the world’s top national teams as preparation for the big challenge this summer.
For the first time in 2026, it’s matchday! 😍England vs Uruguay at a sold-out @wembleystadium awaits… 🤝 pic.twitter.com/2WoFCPvoFZ— England (@England) March 27, 2026
Projected England lineup
The absence of Harry Kane and other English stars from the starting XI this Friday does not mean the Three Lions will field a weak team. On the contrary, several top-level players will be included in the XI against Uruguay, such as Marcus Rashford and Cole Palmer.
Thomas Tuchel’s projected lineup for England is: Jordan Pickford; Tino Livramento, Fikayo Tomori, Harry Maguire, Lewis Hall; Adam Wharton, Jordan Henderson; Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford; Dominic Solanke.
Projected Uruguay lineup
Unlike England, Uruguay are expected to field their key stars for this match. That means Federico Valverde of Real Madrid will be one of Tuchel’s main concerns, given his recent form at club level.
Marcelo Bielsa’s projected XI is: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Ronald Araujo, Matias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez; Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Giorgian De Arrascaeta; Agustin Canobbio, Rodrigo Aguirre, Maximiliano Araujo.