Could it be that, this year, it's coming home? We've crossed all our fingers, but what we know for sure is that the players heading overseas have the history, skillset and passion to bring their A-game. As we hope for a flight to New Jersey for the final, we're taking a look back at the early careers of these sporting superstars.
Read on to find out where they started, where they are now and what impressive achievements they've stored up along the way. But before you do, why not take 60 seconds to play our fun England World Cup WAGs matching pairs game...
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© The FA via Getty Images,PA Images via Getty ImagesJordan Pickford broke records when Everton signed the player for £30 million
Jordan Pickford
Jordan Pickford joined Sunderland academy when he was just 8 years old and 21 when he first played for the first team, in a defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup. Before he officially started with the club, Jordan played for teams like Carlisle United and Bradford City.
In 2017, he signed a record-breaking deal with Everton for £30 million, the most that had been spent on a goalkeeper in British football at the time. Jordan seems happy to make his home with the team for the foreseeable future as his contract ends in 2029.
© PA Images via Getty Images,The FA via Getty ImagesHarry Kane transferred to Bayern Munich after 13 years with Tottenham
Harry Kane
Harry Kane is England's record scorer, counting 79 goals in an impressive 113 games. The footballer signed with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2010 and has since been loaned to Millwall, Norwich and Leicester.
In 2023, he signed a transfer deal with Bayern Munich for €95 million — winning four trophies since making the move to Germany. England fans will be keen to see him carry his scoring talents into the World Cup – after all, Harry won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup. But can he do it again?
© Getty Images,The FA via Getty ImagesJordan Henderson started out at Sunderland and now plays as a midfielder for Brentford
Jordan Henderson
Another Sunderland Academy alum, Jordan Henderson made his first-team debut in 2008, around 10 years after joining the club. In 2011, Liverpool officially completed the signing of a then-20-year-old Jordan for a reported £20 million. Henderson's time on Merseyside was trophy-laden, as he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League
He later transferred to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, moving to Ajax in 2024 and later Brentford in 2025. 2026 will mark Jordan's fourth World Cup, so hopefully it's good grounds to bring home a win, fourth time lucky.
© Manchester United via Getty Images,The FA via Getty ImagesMarcus has made a name for himself in activism as well as football
Marcus Rashford
In 2016, Marcus Rashford made his start on the professional pitch, playing for Manchester United against FC Midtjylland. The same year, he appeared on the international stage with England's senior first-team and scored within the first three minutes. More recently he's starred for Aston Villa and Barcelona, with his United future currently uncertain.
Off the pitch Marcus is just as impressive. In 2020, the player provided a star example to his young fans when he campaigned for the provision of food vouchers during school holidays, a campaign which helped 1.3 million children with £15-a-week vouchers.
© Getty Images,CameraSport via Getty ImagesJohn Stones is working as a free agent since leaving Man City
John Stones
John Stones kept his career close to home with a 2011 signing to Barnsley. He made his senior debut just three months later in March 2012. In 2013, he made a change with a £3 million signing to Everton and three years later, moved again to Manchester City for a fee of £47.5 million where he has won 19 major trophies with Manchester City, including 6 Premier League titles, a Champions League, and multiple domestic cups.
After a decade in Manchester, John will be a free agent upon the expiry of his Manchester City contract on June 30.
© PA Images via Getty Images,Getty ImagesDan Burn started out stacking shelves and is now heading for the World Cup
Dan Burn
Dan Burn didn't have a straightforward path into the hall of football greats. In fact, he spent much of his time with smaller local clubs and stocking supermarket shelves, joining Darlington alongside his sports science and work commitments. He first arrived to the senior's pitch in the Conference Premier and won the FA Trophy.
He's since played for Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion and is now signed to Newcastle United, where he famously scored against Liverpool as en route to his side winning the Carabao Cup In 2025. The same year, Burn's dream grew even more real as he was called up to play for England, making his a real Cinderella story, though without a glass football boot.
