Ben White has won a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it can be revealed.
Arsenal defender White, 25, has won four caps for his country.
He was named in England’s squad for Euro 2020 as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Liverpool right-back sustained an injury but he did not make an appearance during the tournament.
White has made 18 appearances in all competitions for Premier League leaders Arsenal and has long since established himself as one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players, following his £50million move from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2021.
Arteta has White as a right-back this season after previously playing him at center-back, with his positional versatility clearly appealing to Southgate.
White began his career on the south coast and was released by the Southampton academy at the beginning of his career, only to be picked up by Brighton and excel on loan to Leeds United in 2019-20.
He then returned to Brighton and became a key player for the Premier League side, earning both his place in England’s European Championship side and a place in Southgate’s England squad at Euro 2020.
England’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, who’s hosting of the tournament is controversial for the reasons outlined in this article, will be formally announced by the Football Association later on Thursday.
FIFA’s deadline for final confirmation of World Cup squads is on Monday — so Southgate will watch this weekend’s Premier League praying that his 26 players emerge unscathed.
He will already be concerned after Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte said England captain Harry Kane was “very, very tired” after starting Wednesday’s Carabao Cup loss at Nottingham Forest.
Kane, who was taken off before the hour mark, has started all 21 of Tottenham’s games this season in all competitions. He also played the full 90 minutes in both of England’s Nations League games in September.
England will meanwhile be without Chelsea duo Ben Chilwell and Reece James.
Chilwell injured his knee playing in the Champions League while a “devastated” James confirmed his absence earlier this week after speaking to Southgate.
England start their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21, before facing the United States on November 25 and Wales in their final group B match on November 29.
Southgate will be hoping to end England’s long wait for silverware after near misses at the Russian World Cup and last summer’s run to the final of the European Championship, which they lost to Italy.
Follow live updates on England’s World Cup squad announcement here
(Photo: Getty Images)
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