England and Uruguay are set to clash at Wembley Stadium this Friday, March 27, 2026, in a highly anticipated international friendly as both nations intensify their preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. For fans eager to tune in, the match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 in the United States, with streaming options available on Fubo, ViX, and the Fox Sports app. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. local time in London, which translates to 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time for viewers across the Atlantic.
This fixture marks the first encounter between the Three Lions and La Celeste since the 2014 World Cup, a match that ended in heartbreak for England as Luis Suárez's double sent them crashing out in the group stage. England's historical record against Uruguay is less than stellar; in 11 meetings, they've managed just three wins, a win ratio of 27%. Only against Brazil and Romania do they fare worse. Wembley itself has witnessed its share of stalemates between these two, with two of their four previous meetings at the iconic stadium ending 0-0, including the goalless draw at the 1966 World Cup and a friendly in 1995.
Thomas Tuchel, who took over as England manager at the start of 2025, has overseen a remarkable transformation. Under his stewardship, England has won nine out of ten matches and has developed a reputation for defensive solidity. The Three Lions have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 fixtures, including the last six in a row since a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in June 2025. Another shutout tonight would see England equal their record of seven consecutive clean sheets, previously set in June and July 2021.
Tuchel has used the March friendlies as an opportunity to assess the depth of his expanded 35-man squad. Notably, several stars—including captain Harry Kane, Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Eliott Anderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka—are sitting out this fixture due to workload management. Eberechi Eze and Jarell Quansah have withdrawn through injury and have been replaced by Harvey Barnes and Ben White. As a result, an experimental England lineup is expected, with opportunities for emerging talents such as Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall, and Dominic Solanke to impress on the international stage.
England’s predicted starting XI is: Pickford; Livramento, Stones, Maguire, Hall; Wharton, Mainoo; Madueke, Palmer, Rashford; Solanke. This blend of youth and experience could inject fresh energy, but it also means the squad is less familiar than usual. The absence of Kane is particularly notable, considering he has scored 10 goals in his last 10 England appearances, including nine in his first nine games under Tuchel. Kane’s knack for delivering in big moments will be missed, but the likes of Cole Palmer and Marcus Rashford are more than capable of picking up the slack.
Uruguay, under the tactically astute Marcelo Bielsa, arrive in London ranked 17th in the world by FIFA and fresh off a fourth-place finish in the fiercely competitive CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying section. Bielsa’s men also took third place at the 2024 Copa America, underscoring their pedigree. However, they enter this friendly after a humbling 5-1 defeat to the United States in November 2025. That result snapped a period of relative stability, as Uruguay had not lost consecutive games since their four-match losing streak back in late 2021 under previous coach Oscar Tabárez.
Bielsa is no stranger to Wembley, having last managed there over 26 years ago—a record span between managerial appearances against England at the stadium. His record against the Three Lions stands at one draw (0-0 at Wembley in February 2000) and one loss (1-0 at the 2002 World Cup as Argentina boss). He will be keen to improve that tally, even with some key absentees in his squad. Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Nahitan Nández are ruled out due to injury and illness, while Lucas Torreira is also missing. Nevertheless, Uruguay boasts considerable quality in their ranks, with Ronald Araujo and José María Giménez forming a formidable central defensive partnership, and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde and Al-Hilal’s Darwin Núñez providing flair and firepower further up the pitch.
Uruguay’s predicted starting XI is: Muslera; Varela, R. Araujo, Giménez, Viña; Valverde, Ugarte, De Arrascaeta; Rodríguez, Núñez, Pellistri. Núñez, despite limited club minutes lately, remains a potent threat, having scored five goals in World Cup qualifying. Valverde, meanwhile, is enjoying a stellar run of form at Real Madrid and will be eager to translate that to the international arena. Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Manuel Ugarte are expected to anchor the midfield, ensuring Uruguay won’t be easily overrun.
Both sides are renowned for their defensive prowess. England has conceded just three goals during Tuchel’s reign—all in a single match—while Uruguay has kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games. This could set the stage for a tactical chess match, with both managers likely to prioritize structure and discipline over all-out attack. Still, with creative talents on both sides, a moment of individual brilliance could prove decisive.
England’s recent record against South American teams is mixed. They have won just two of their last 11 such encounters (drawing five and losing four), and they’re winless in five since beating Peru in May 2014. Uruguay, for their part, have beaten the likes of Brazil, Colombia, and reigning world champions Argentina during their World Cup qualifying campaign, although their form has dipped of late with only four wins in their last 11 matches.
As for the fans, the atmosphere at Wembley is expected to be electric, with both sets of supporters eager to see how their teams shape up ahead of the summer’s showpiece event in North America. With England’s flawless qualifying campaign—eight wins from eight, no goals conceded—and Uruguay’s battle-hardened squad, the stage is set for a fascinating contest.
With the match still to be played, all eyes will be on Wembley this Friday night to see which team can lay down a marker ahead of the World Cup. Will England’s experimental lineup maintain their formidable defensive record, or can Uruguay bounce back from their recent setback and spring a surprise in London? One thing’s for sure: this friendly is anything but meaningless as both teams look to fine-tune their preparations for the summer ahead.