Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup notably omitted several high-profile players, including Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Harry Maguire. While the team marches towards the quarter-finals unbeaten, these stars have been making the most of their unexpected summer break.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer, perhaps the biggest surprise exclusion, has been enjoying an extended off-season. Speaking to iD magazine, he said he is not crying over the decision and plans to rest for the first time in three years. Palmer has launched a premium ice product line called 'COLE'D', in partnership with Gopuff, and has been spotted on holiday in Ibiza, Turkey and the south of France with his girlfriend Olivia Holder, as well as posting about a new grey Lamborghini on Instagram.
Manchester City's Phil Foden has focused on training, sharing clips of pitch drills on Instagram to prepare for the next season. He also spent time fishing at Norton Disney lake in Lincolnshire, posting photos with sizeable catches. Foden attended Tommy Fury's boxing match, where he was approached by an adult content creator, and later celebrated Father's Day at Disneyland Paris with his girlfriend Rebecca Cooke and their three children.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire publicly voiced his disappointment on social media, stating he felt 'shocked and gutted' by his omission. Despite this, he has been smiling through the summer, travelling to New York to appear on Gary Lineker's podcast 'The Rest is Football' and attending the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. He also conducted a fan meet and greet and partnered with tech brand Currys.
Real Madrid full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, another surprise exclusion, has largely stayed off social media but posted a promise to take a break and then work hard to bring trophies back to the Santiago Bernabéu, acknowledging his need to settle after a move to Spain.
