Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup, but the selection has been overshadowed by several high-profile omissions. The German manager, appointed two years ago to succeed Gareth Southgate, has opted for attacking depth and midfield options while leaving out some established stars.
The most surprising exclusion is Phil Foden, once a key figure under Southgate. The Manchester City playmaker has struggled for form this season and found himself on the fringes at club level, but his recent improvement was not enough to earn a place. Cole Palmer has also been left out, despite being player of the match in both the Conference League and Club World Cup finals less than a year ago. Concerns over his sharpness after a heavy workload may have influenced Tuchel's decision.
Morgan Gibbs-White, who has enjoyed a superb season with Nottingham Forest and is tied as the top English scorer with 14 goals, has also missed out due to intense competition for creative roles. Harry Maguire, a stalwart of England's defence for a decade, confirmed his omission on Instagram, saying he was 'shocked and gutted'. The 33-year-old's tournament experience was overlooked by Tuchel.
Adam Wharton, a progressive passer for Crystal Palace, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, a Premier League and Champions League winner, are also absent. Alexander-Arnold, reinvented as a midfielder at Euro 2024, has had an injury-disrupted season at Real Madrid, while Wharton may have been squeezed out by more versatile options.
Tuchel's squad is strong in attack and midfield but appears short on established international defenders. The omissions have sparked debate, with many questioning the manager's choices as England seek to end a 60-year wait for tournament success.
