Kobbie Mainoo officially gets new shirt number

Kobbie Mainoo’s rise back into prominence has been one of the standout developments of the season, particularly after being left on the fringes earlier in the campaign under Ruben Amorim.

Since Michael Carrick took charge at Manchester United at the start of the year, the midfielder has been a regular feature again and has responded with consistent performances at club level.

His form in the second half of the season has not gone unnoticed, with England continuing to track his progress closely ahead of a major summer tournament.

Mainoo’s resurgence has also helped strengthen his position within the national team setup, where he was called up by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup.

At international level, he has already earned 12 caps but is still waiting for his first appearance at a World Cup finals after not featuring in qualifying matches.

FIFA have now confirmed, via their website, the squad numbers for the 2026 World Cup, with England finalising their list ahead of the tournament in North America.

Mainoo has been allocated the No.16 shirt for the competition, marking a change from his No.26 at Euro 2024 and his current No.37 at Manchester United.

The youngster made his England debut as an 18-year-old under Gareth Southgate and was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2024 final, narrowly losing to Spain.

England have already begun assembling in the United States for their final preparations, with warm-up fixtures against New Zealand and Costa Rica scheduled before the tournament begins.

Mainoo’s improved club form under Carrick has also earned him wider recognition, including a nomination for Premier League Young Player of the Season.

He was also rewarded with an improved contract extension.

With a key role now seemingly established at both club and international level, expectations are rising as he prepares for his first World Cup campaign.