England are set to field Marc Guehi and John Stones together in central defence for their World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway, with Guehi having recovered from a minor hamstring strain sustained in the win over Mexico. The team news is significant because it reunites an all-Manchester City centre-back pairing to face their former club team-mate Erling Haaland, and marks Stones's first start since the tournament's opening game against Croatia.

To accommodate Stones, Ezri Konsa is expected to shift from centre-back to right-back, while Declan Rice is fit to start despite a sickness bug and Noni Madueke looks set to be chosen ahead of Bukayo Saka, who has been managed through the tournament with Achilles tendinitis. Haaland has scored seven goals at the World Cup, one more than Harry Kane, while Stones, 32, left City this month upon the expiry of his contract. Reece James, back from a hamstring injury, is expected to be among the substitutes, with the anticipated line-up being Pickford, Konsa, Guehi, Stones, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Gordon, Bellingham and Kane.