83 caps, two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final have taken Jordan Pickford close to the prize England crave. Now the Everton goalkeeper has added another detail to his World Cup brief: if a shoot-out demands it, he says he is ready not only to save penalties, but to take one. That matters because England’s recent tournament history has repeatedly turned on small, nerve-heavy moments from 12 yards.
The Bottom Line
- Pickford says he would back himself 100 per cent to take a penalty for England if required at the World Cup.
- His former PE teacher Jim Welch says Pickford had a powerful left foot at school and scored goals from 30 yards.
- The Everton goalkeeper is preparing for his third World Cup and what sources describe as his fifth major international tournament.
- Pickford has reached a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals with England, but he has not yet won a major professional trophy.
- England open their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, followed by Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.
Breaking It Down
Pickford’s comments come from England’s pre-tournament camp in Florida, where Thomas Tuchel has been preparing the squad through warm-up fixtures before the World Cup begins. The goalkeeper played in the penultimate friendly against New Zealand, earning his 83rd cap before being replaced at half-time by James Trafford, while Dean Henderson was expected to receive minutes against Costa Rica in Orlando.
The eye-catching line was his penalty confidence. Pickford said he would put the practice in and execute the kick if called upon, while also stressing that his first job remains saving them. That balance is central to why the story has caught attention: England already know Pickford as a shoot-out goalkeeper, but the idea of him stepping up as a taker adds a different pressure point to Tuchel’s tournament planning.
There is history behind the claim. Pickford saved in England’s 2018 World Cup shoot-out win over Colombia and was again involved in decisive penalty moments in later tournaments. One source also notes that he scored England’s fifth penalty and then saved Switzerland’s effort during the 2019 UEFA Nations League third-place play-off shoot-out.
His former PE teacher, Jim Welch, offered the most vivid supporting detail. Welch, 71, taught Pickford at St Robert of Westminster RC school in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and said the young goalkeeper spent years playing in midfield rather than goal.
I think he would be really good at penalties. And I don't just mean saving them - he can take them as well.
- Shoot-out
- A penalty contest used to decide a knockout match when teams remain level after normal time and extra time.
- Cap
- An appearance for a national team. Pickford earned his 83rd England cap in the warm-up match against New Zealand.
Why This Matters
For England, Pickford’s value is no longer only technical. He is one of the squad’s senior voices, and he has openly spoken about being a leader around the group while Harry Kane carries the captain’s armband. That kind of responsibility becomes sharper in a tournament, where one save, one kick or one calm voice can shift the entire direction of a campaign.
The contrast is striking. Sources say Tuchel has assembled a squad packed with club trophy winners, yet Pickford and Elliot Anderson are among the only players still waiting for a major professional trophy. For Pickford, that adds a personal edge to England’s wider mission: he has been part of the near-misses, including the 2018 World Cup semi-final, the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy and the 2024 final defeat to Spain.
For supporters in Britain, this is also about trust. England have carried years of penalty baggage into modern tournaments, and Pickford has been one of the players who helped change that mood. His readiness to take a kick does not guarantee he will be asked, but it does show the mentality Tuchel may need if another knockout match tightens into a shoot-out.
What Comes Next
England’s immediate schedule is clear from the provided reports: the squad continue their final preparation in the United States before beginning Group L against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. Matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 follow.
Pickford is described in the sources as certain to be Tuchel’s first-choice goalkeeper for the opener. Whether he ever walks forward to take a penalty will depend on circumstances, but the point has already been made: he wants responsibility, not just the gloves.
People Also Ask
Will Jordan Pickford take penalties for England at the World Cup?
Pickford has said he would back himself 100 per cent if England needed him to take a penalty. He also said his main focus remains saving penalties, so any decision would depend on the shoot-out order and the match situation.
Who said Jordan Pickford should take penalties?
Jim Welch, Pickford’s former PE teacher at St Robert of Westminster RC school in Washington, said the goalkeeper should be taking penalties as well as saving them. Welch said Pickford played in midfield at school and had a powerful left foot.
How many England caps does Jordan Pickford have?
One report says Pickford won his 83rd England cap in the penultimate pre-tournament friendly against New Zealand. He played the first half before James Trafford replaced him.
Has Jordan Pickford won a major trophy?
The sources state that Pickford has not yet won a major professional trophy. He has, however, reached major finals and a World Cup semi-final with England.
When do England start their World Cup group games?
England start Group L against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. The provided reports list Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 as the next two group opponents.