Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to end a 60-year wait for tournament success. The German, appointed two years ago after Gareth Southgate's departure, has selected a group strong in attack and midfield but lighter on established defenders.
The biggest surprise is the omission of Phil Foden. The Manchester City playmaker, once a key figure under Southgate, has struggled for form this season and been pushed to the fringes at club level. Despite recent improvements, Tuchel has opted to leave him out.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer is another shock exclusion. Just 12 months after being man of the match in both the Conference League and Club World Cup finals, Palmer's form has dipped amid Chelsea's chaos, and Tuchel reportedly had concerns over his sharpness and ideal role.
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, who finished the season strongly with 14 Premier League goals, also misses out due to intense competition for creative spots. Harry Maguire, a defensive stalwart for a decade, confirmed his omission on Instagram, saying he was 'shocked and gutted'. The 33-year-old has been in good form for Manchester United under Michael Carrick.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, a progressive passer, may feel unlucky not to be included, while Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury-disrupted season at Real Madrid and the emergence of other right-backs have pushed him out of contention.
