Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his sixth England game in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitic on Tuesday.
The Three Lions have won all four of their qualifying games under the German but a stronger showing is likely to be required following a functional rather than flowing 2-0 victory over minnows Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday.
England are aiming to qualify for a seventh consecutive edition of the tournament, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States between June and July.
101GreatGoals.com brings you the line-ups from Serbia vs England in 2026 World Cup qualifying, as well as details on how to watch the game.
Serbia vs England – Best UK Free Bets, Betting Offers, Odds & Tips
Serbia starting line-up vs England
Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic started for the hosts when England last visited Belgrade, beating Yugoslavia 4-1 in November 1987 through goals by Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Bryan Robson and Tony Adams.
Stojkovic said he would make changes after his side won 1-0 in Latvia on Saturday through an early Dusan Vlahovic strike.
Former Al-Hilal, Fulham and Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench in that game but remains in reserve initially.
Mitrovic has suffered from a lack of game time, although he joined Qatari club Al Rayyan last week.
“We have a problem in that not only Mitrovic, but many of our players are not playing or have little playing time in their clubs,” explained Stojkovic, via Zurnal.
“We will try to ensure that everyone is fully fit and ready.”
Serbia starting XI: Djordje Petrovic, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Veljko Birmancevic, Sasha Lukic, Andrija Zivkovic, Strahinja Erakovic, Ivan Ilic, Dusan Vlahovic
Serbia substitutes: Dragan Rosic, Srdjan Babic, Milos Veljkovic, Nemanja Stojic, Nemanja Gudelj, Lazar Samardzic, Filip Kostic, Uros Racic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Luka Jovic, Aleksandar Katai, Nikola Stulic
England starting line-up vs Serbia
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly was England’s starting left-back against Andorra but has been left out of their matchday squad and replaced in the starting line-up by Tino Livramento.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson starts again following his maiden call up and England debut against Andorra.
Marc Guehi is joined by Ezri Konsa – in for Dan Burn – in central defence, while Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers replace Eberechi Eze and Marcus Rashford, with Noni Madueke again supporting Harry Kane in attack.
England are without Jude Bellingham following the forward’s shoulder surgery and midfielder Adam Wharton, who withdrew with an adductor issue.
Manchester City defender John Stones also pulled out with a muscle injury and midfielder Cole Palmer did not recover in time from a groin problem.
England starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Noni Madueke, Harry Kane
England substitutes: James Trafford, Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Djed Spence, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Marcus Rashford
How to watch Serbia vs England: TV and online streams
Serbia vs England kicks-off at 19:45pm BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT) on Tuesday. It is being shown on ITV1 and STV in the UK and can be streamed on the ITVX and STV Player apps.
Full England squad for September 2025 World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, John Stones*
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton*
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins
* Withdrew through injury. Wharton replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek
England World Cup qualifiers: What group are they in?
England are in Group K alongside Albania, Latvia, Andorra and Serbia. Of those opponents, Serbia’s standing of 32nd in Fifa’s ranking makes them by far the highest-ranked team Tuchel’s side will face.
Serbia proved tricky opponents at Euro 2024, with only a Jude Bellingham goal separating the teams in their opener in Germany.
Including games as Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro, Dragan Stojkovic’s nation have lost their last five meetings with England, although they held an impressive record of one defeat in their last 21 World Cup qualifying matches before the group began, winning 14 and drawing six.
⏪ Back in November 2021…
🏴5️⃣-0️⃣🇦🇱 pic.twitter.com/JfIJQD39r0
— England (@England) March 21, 2025
Latvia are ranked 137th and have never played England before, while Andorra are 174th and have lost all seven of the encounters between the countries by an aggregate score of 26-0, although only a Harry Kane goal separated the sides during the current campaign.
Ben Chilwell, Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, James Ward-Prowse and Jack Grealish scored when England won 5-0 in Andorra in October 2021.
Albania are ranked 68th and lost 2-0 at Wembley Stadium in Tuchel’s first match in charge and England’s first qualifer on March 21.
They are one of five nations England have faced more than six times and won against every time, alongside Luxembourg (9), San Marino (8), Malta (7) and Andorra (6).
Togetherness and creating a bond 🤝 pic.twitter.com/hkQRundhgg
— England (@England) March 21, 2025
England football team World Cup qualifying fixtures
All fixtures start at 19:45 UK time (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT) unless otherwise stated.
Friday, March 21: England 2-0 Albania
Monday, March 24: England 3-0 Latvia
Saturday, June 7: Andorra 0-1 England
Saturday, September 6: England 2-0 Andorra
Tuesday, September 9: Serbia vs England
Tuesday, October 14: Latvia vs England
Thursday, November 13: England vs Serbia
Sunday, November 16: Albania vs England (17:00)
Sound on for this one. 🤩🔊 pic.twitter.com/ozcnaDn58Q
— England (@England) March 19, 2025
England games: What happens if Three Lions top group?
The top team from each of the 12 European Qualifier groups proceeds automatically to the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.
Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Croatia are among the other favourites to win their groups.
What happens if England finish second in World Cup qualifiers?
England will be eliminated if they finish third or below and enter the play-offs between March 26-31 2026 if they come second.
The 12 runners-up in each group will join four Nations League teams in the play-offs, which will be drawn from pots based on teams’ records during the campaign. The games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals.
The draw for the World Cup finals will take place in December 2025. The tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.
