James Trafford has been called up to the England squad for the November 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The 23-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper replaces Newcastle’s Nick Pope, who sustained a concussion during the Magpies’ defeat to Brentford, according to Softfootball. Pope’s withdrawal opened the door for Trafford’s return to the national setup, as he had previously featured in Thomas Tuchel’s early England squads this season.
Tuchel’s men are already through to the 2026 World Cup, having won all six of their qualifying matches without conceding a single goal. The manager recently spoke about England’s flawless run, describing the campaign as a statement of intent, as reported by Softfootball. Trafford now joins Manchester City teammates Phil Foden, John Stones, and Nico O’Reilly as part of a strong squad looking to maintain their perfect record in Group K.
Trafford’s selection, shared by the Manchester City official X account, follows a string of injury-related adjustments in the England camp. Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was also ruled out due to a minor knock, while Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was drafted in to replace Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who remains sidelined with a bone bruise. SoftFootball earlier reported that Chalobah’s return adds more defensive balance to Tuchel’s options ahead of the final two fixtures.
Since rejoining Manchester City in the summer, Trafford has made five appearances across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, conceding just two goals. Although still waiting for his senior international debut, he has been tipped as one of England’s most promising young goalkeepers.
England will host Serbia at Wembley on Thursday before heading to Tirana to face Albania on Sunday. The Three Lions aim to close out their campaign with a 100 per cent record, as Tuchel continues to blend youth and experience in preparation for the World Cup.
