Reece James to miss England's match against Panama at World Cup, Rice and Anderson may play

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Right back Reece James will miss England's final World Cup group match against Panama on Saturday because of a hamstring injury, midfielders Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson may play and winger Bukayo Saka could make his first start of the tournament.

James was hurt during Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Ghana, and coach Thomas Tuchel described the injury as minor. James did not travel to New Jersey from England’s training camp in Kansas City, Missouri.

“He is now in an accelerated rehabilitation program,” Tuchel said Friday. “We strongly believe that he will be available for us in the tournament.”

England beat Croatia 4-2 before the draw with Ghana, putting itself in position to reach the knockout rounds for the sixth time in seven World Cups. The Three Lions would finish atop Group L with a victory or even a draw depending on Croatia's result against Ghana. England could then meet Congo or Senegal in the round of 32 on Wednesday in Atlanta, but also could advance as a second- or third-place team.

Tuchel said his James' status for the round of 32 was unclear.

Djed Spence could shift from left back to right on Saturday and Tuchel could insert Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah or Ezri Konsa on the right. Konsa started the first two games at center back.

Rice and Anderson participated in Friday's training session.

“They had minor issues after the match, but they had enough time to recover,” Tuchel said.

Panama was eliminated with losses to Ghana and Croatia. Los Canaleros have failed to advance past the first round in both of their World Cup appearances.

“It doesn’t really matter whether Panama are still in the competition or not,” England defender Marc Guéhi said. “Their goal is always the same, just to try and do as well as possible and make their country proud.”

England routed Panama 6-1 in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup with Harry Kane scoring a hat trick.

“It’s a difficult match against a team that is so difficult to break down. They hardly allowed any chances,” Tuchel said. “It’s not the most famous or most well-known football nation, the most cleverest football name, but they are strong. They can play in the role of an underdog, they can play without any pressure.”

Saka could be in the starting lineup after recovering from an Achilles problem. Saka entered in the 72nd minute against Croatia and in the 65th against Ghana, and a start would be his first since the Champions League final on May 30.

“We agreed with Bukayo, and especially with the medical department and in a very tight cooperation with Arsenal that this is the way to build him up,” Tuchel said. “He’s fully free of pain, fully free from discomfort and he’s ready to go and ready to start.”

Rice had his left calf wrapped after the Ghana match. He got a yellow card against the Black Stars and with another Saturday would be suspended for the round of 32.

“He’s experienced enough to handle it, but we are aware of it,” Tuchel said.

Any medical exam needed by Anderson for a transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City would take place after Saturday's game.

“Our focus was on his recovery and getting him available for training," Tuchel said. “The reality is that the transfers are going on in world football while we are playing, and big transfers take their time, so we understand that things are going on behind the scenes, and we will facilitate of course that transfer after the match and not before.”

Thomas Christiansen became Panama coach in 2020 and isn't sure of his status following his contract's July 31 expiration.

“I would like to leave on a good note and make history, hopefully positive history, not negative history,” Christiansen said. “We’ve qualified Panama for the second-ever World Cup. It’s a source of pride for me, but also I have this bittersweet taste. As we didn’t get a goal, we didn’t get a win, even though we played well, we have mixed emotions.”

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Panama's Cecilio Waterman, left, and Ghana's Caleb Yirenkyi (3) vie for the ball during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Ghana and Panama in Toronto, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

England's Declan Rice trains for the World Cup soccer tournament Friday, June 26, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

England's Reece James (24) looks on during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England's Reece James (24) is looked at after he collided with Ghana's Jordan Ayew (9) during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

England's Declan Rice trains for the World Cup soccer tournament Friday, June 26, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s stadium is expected to be brimming with rainbow flags on Friday for a World Cup match between teams representing two of the most repressive countries for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

It was just a coincidence that the city’s “Pride Match” ended up as a high-stakes matchup between Iran and Egypt — with advancement from Group G still up in the air — and the move has come with plenty of pushback from both countries. But Seattle officials and its soccer community say this distinctive pairing is an opportunity to showcase the city’s inclusivity as well as the common ground that can be found at the World Cup.

Jess Fishlock, captain of the National Women’s Soccer League club Seattle Reign, said this is what the World Cup is all about.

“I don’t think there is a sport that has a global event that creates unity and diversity and a bringing together of so many cultures quite like the World Cup,” she told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I think we get to see that firsthand at the Pride Match.”

Same-sex relations are illegal in Iran, where gay men have been executed on sodomy charges, while Egypt has prosecuted gay and lesbian people and suppressed outward expressions of gay pride, including rainbow flags.

The countries complained to FIFA in December about the “Pride Match” and have asked that the celebrations be canceled.

FIFA treats the rainbow flag as a statement of human rights and will allow fans to wave it inside the stadium, according to Hana Tadesse, a spokesperson for Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee.

When asked Thursday about the pride celebration, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said the team was focused on soccer.

“We are concerned with football on the pitch,” he said in Arabic. “We respect fair play and rules for everybody to abide by.”

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei made similar remarks during a news conference Thursday when asked about what will happen at Lumen Field.

“We are only going to speak about football, what a beautiful game it is, and how enjoyable it’s going to be,” Ghalenoei said in response to a reporter’s question in Farsi.

The match on Friday coincides with Seattle’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and Pride watch parties are planned in some neighborhoods. Over the weekend, the city will hold its popular Pride parade.

Ilona Lohrey, president and CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association, an LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, described Seattle as one of the most inclusive cities in the country.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to showcase who we are as a city, who we are as a people and how diversity makes us stronger,” Lohrey said in an interview.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Pride flags are displayed at a dining area outside the stadium before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Meghan Cherry, of Seattle, adorned in a pride flag arrives for the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A man moves a barrier adorned with a Pride flag at a dining area outside the stadium before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Anthony Vega, of Seattle, displays a pride flag outside the stadium before attending the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

FILE - Marchers with the Greater Seattle Business Association, Washington State's LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce, hold rainbow letters spelling out "Seattle," during the annual Seattle Pride Parade, June 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

FILE - Sasha Peretti dances on the Greater Seattle Business Association float during the annual Seattle Pride Parade, June 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)