Gareth Southgate has named his 26-man England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the announcement made on Wednesday afternoon. The squad includes several surprises, notably the inclusion of Marcus Rashford, James Maddison, and Callum Wilson, while Ivan Toney has been left out.
Rashford returns to the England setup for the first time since missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final, having rediscovered his form under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Maddison's impressive displays for Leicester City and Wilson's strong performances for Newcastle United earned them places in the squad.
The goalkeepers selected are Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, and Aaron Ramsdale. The defence features Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, and Ben White. Midfielders include Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison, and Conor Gallagher. The attacking options are Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, and Callum Wilson.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed disappointment at Toney's omission, stating, 'You cannot find a better striker in form in the country after Harry Kane.' Former England boss Roy Hodgson described the choice between Wilson and Toney as a 'hard choice,' noting Wilson's experience at Premier League level.
England's World Cup campaign begins against Iran on November 21, just 11 days after the squad announcement. Kieran Trippier, who is expected to play a key role due to his versatility, wrote on Instagram: 'Delighted to be called up... let's do everyone proud!' Bukayo Saka, who has been in fine form for Arsenal, also expressed his excitement, calling it a 'childhood dream.'
