England manager Thomas Tuchel has officially named Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice as the Three Lions’ vice-captain for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement came after England’s friendly victory over New Zealand on Saturday, as reported by BBC Sport.
At 27 years old, Rice brings significant experience to the role, having already earned 72 caps for his country. His appointment underscores his growing influence within the squad and his recent stellar form at club level. Rice was instrumental in Arsenal’s Premier League triumph this season, their first since the 2003-04 campaign. He also played a pivotal role in the Gunners’ run to the Champions League final, where they narrowly lost to Paris St-Germain on penalties last weekend.
Tuchel confirmed his decision, stating, “I think I would say Declan is my vice-captain.” When pressed on whether Rice was aware of his new designation, the England manager elaborated on their prior discussions. “That is a good question. I was just thinking about it. Whether it is an official thing or not. But I think we had this talk when Harry was not in camp with us. We started with Ollie and I think Declan was captain. That was where I told him.” This refers to Rice’s previous stint wearing the armband during Harry Kane’s absence for an October friendly against Wales, a match in which Ollie Watkins led the England attack.
World Cup preparations intensify in the US
The announcement comes as England continues its preparations for the global showpiece with a training camp in the United States. Rice, alongside Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze, joined the squad in Florida on Sunday to begin work with the group.
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The Three Lions have one more friendly scheduled against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday before a behind-closed-doors game with Miami FC. The squad is then set to travel to their Kansas City base on Saturday, ready to fine-tune their strategy ahead of the tournament.
England’s World Cup campaign is set to kick off on 17 June against Croatia. They will also face two other nations in Group L:
Ghana
Panama
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Rice’s leadership will be crucial as England aims for a strong showing in the tournament, with his experience and recent success providing a solid foundation for the squad.
Sources: www.bbc.com
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