Jordan Henderson is heading to the 2026 World Cup. The Brentford midfielder has made history, becoming the first Englishman selected for seven major international tournaments.
Henderson’s Record-Breaking Achievement
The 35-year-old was included in Thomas Tuchel’s final squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. His England career began in 2010 and has now spanned more than 15 years.
Henderson’s selection takes him beyond a mark he narrowly missed at Euro 2024, when he was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad. His tournament record now includes Euro 2012, the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and the 2026 World Cup.
Brentford’s Experienced Addition
For Brentford, this selection is a reward for one of the club’s most experienced summer additions. Henderson joined the Bees on a free transfer from Ajax in July 2025. He returned to the Premier League with the World Cup still one of his clear ambitions.
Speaking before Brentford’s final Premier League match of the season away to Liverpool, Andrews described Henderson’s professionalism as the best he has seen.
“His professionalism is the best I’ve ever seen,” Andrews said in his pre-match press conference. “Going back to Anfield will be quite special for him and pretty emotional. The part that he played in their history is hugely significant. I’ve no doubt he’ll get a brilliant reception.”
Return to Anfield and International Career Highlights
That return to Anfield now carries another layer. Henderson played 492 times for Liverpool across 12 years, captaining the club to the Premier League and Champions League among a major honours list, before later returning to England with Brentford.
His international career has also included several of England’s biggest recent tournament moments. Henderson started in the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia and scored in England’s 3-0 round-of-16 win over Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Road to the World Cup
The midfielder had fallen out of the England picture before Tuchel’s arrival, but was recalled in the German’s first squad in March 2025 for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. He has now completed the route back into a tournament squad at the point when his experience could again prove valuable to England.
- England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
- They then face Panama in Boston.
- Their group stage concludes against Ghana in New Jersey.
For Henderson, the tournament will extend a record-breaking international journey. For Brentford, it provides another source of recognition at the end of a season in which several players have earned the opportunity to play on international football’s biggest stage.