Nico O'Reilly: I've dreamed of playing in the World Cup since I was a child, and I can't wait to start the game.

Nico O'Reilly, speaking about his first World Cup appearance, said it was a dream come true. He has been included in Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad for England's 2026 World Cup campaign, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, alongside teammates James Trafford and Mark Guiayi.  

After defeating New Zealand and Costa Rica in warm-up matches, the England national team will face Croatia in their first World Cup group stage match this week in Texas, USA. The young player is excited about participating in the world's most watched tournament.  

Nico O'Reilly said: "This is simply incredible, a dream come true. I've dreamed of playing in the World Cup since I was a child, and now it's finally happening. Although I'm still young, I can't wait to start playing."  

Nico O'Reilly has had an outstanding season at Manchester City, winning the Etihad Player of the Season award. His most notable performance was his brace in the League Cup final against Arsenal, which helped his team lift the trophy. However, the 21-year-old versatile player also stated that he transitioned to the top level very quickly, only making his Premier League debut 18 months ago.  

Speaking about this, he said: "It does feel a bit unreal, everything happened so fast. I only made my Premier League debut last January, and since then I've gradually established myself at Manchester City, which is how I got to this stage today."  

“There are a lot of experienced players on the team who have all been through similar important games. They give you guidance, telling you what to do and what not to do, which is very helpful to me. I think the best advice the captain can give is to enjoy it all, and that's what I hope to do.”  

Image source: Internet/Manchester City official website