1 hour ago
1
Reece James says he is feeling good and hopes to feature in England’s FIFA World Cup last-16 match against Mexico, offering a boost to Thomas Tuchel’s squad after an anxious wait over the defender’s fitness.
The Chelsea right-back suffered a hamstring injury during England’s group stage campaign in late June 2026, initially raising fears that his tournament could be over before the knockout rounds even began.
The injury timeline
James picked up the hamstring problem during one of England’s group-stage matches in late June. The initial assessment suggested the injury was minor, but concerns escalated as the team’s medical staff evaluated the full extent of the damage.
At one point, reports indicated that James could miss at least the first two knockout-round matches.
England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that James has been undergoing an accelerated rehabilitation program at Chelsea’s Cobham training facility.
Teammate Jarell Quansah is also reportedly going through a cautious rehabilitation process, meaning Tuchel’s defensive options could be stretched thin heading into the knockout stage.
What to watch heading into the Mexico match
England’s round of 16 clash against Mexico is scheduled for early July 2026, which gives James roughly a week to ten days of additional recovery depending on when exactly the injury occurred during the group stage.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) · 