The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than a month away from coming to the Meadowlands and many star players are going to be coming to the region to play. This week, the player getting the spotlight is Reece James, a right-back for Chelsea. James was unable to play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury but is looking to make his tournament debut this summer.
James’ talents were apparent from an early age, as he signed with Chelsea at six years old, joining the club’s youth academy. In the 2017-18 season, James captained Chelsea’s under-18 team to win the FA Youth Cup, which is the annual English knockout competition for under-18 football clubs. His role with the team led to him being named the Academy Player of the Season.
In June 2018, James went to Championship club Wigan Athletic on a loan for the 2018-19 season, playing at English’s second-highest tier of football. James would go on to be selected for the 2018-19 Championship Team of the Season, as well as being named Wigan Athletic’s Player of the Year.
On Sept. 25, 2019, James made his debut for Premier League club Chelsea, over a decade after joining their youth academy. His first goal came in the third round of the 2019-20 EFL Cup during a 7-1 win over Grimsby Town. Later in the season, on Nov. 5, James would go on to become Chelsea’s youngest goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, scoring in a 4-4 draw against Ajax.
James’ first goal in the Premier League came on Sept. 14, 2020, in a 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. During the 2020-21 season, James & Chelsea would go on to win the UEFA Champions League, which was just the club’s second title.
On Sept. 5, 2022, James signed a six-year contract with Chelsea, extending his time at the club. James’ performances were earning him high praise from fans, however, an injury in October 2022 caused him to miss significant playing time. This same injury would prevent James from playing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which he stated left him “devastated”.
On Aug. 9, 2023, James was named as the club captain of Chelsea, 17 years after joining the club’s youth academy. A string of injuries plagued the remainder of James’ season in 2023 and parts of 2024.
Last summer, James captained Chelsea at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which the team would go on to win, defeating Paris Saint-Germain by a score of 3-0 in the final match. The championship game was held at MetLife Stadium, meaning that James already has a history in the Meadowlands.
After spending time with the youth teams, James was called up to England’s senior team on Oct. 5, 2020. A few days later, on Oct. 8, James made his debut for the team, entering the game as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Wales.
He made three appearances for England during their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, however, injuries kept him off the playing field once the tournament began. In March 2023, James returned to England’s lineup to play in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, though he was once again unable to play due to injuries.
James played in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Albania and Latvia. Currently, James’ status for the tournament remains in doubt after suffering another injury in March, though he has recovered faster than anticipated, leaving many fans hopeful.
Reece James came to MetLife Stadium last summer for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he led his team to the tournament title. This summer, James and England will head to MetLife Stadium on June 27 to take on Panama in their final group stage match. If England can make its way to the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, James will once again be playing in a championship match in the Meadowlands, where he will hope to replicate the results from last year.
