England manager Thomas Tuchel has named a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico — that conspicuously omits several of the country's most high-profile players. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have all been left out in a selection that signals a deliberate break from the Gareth Southgate era.
Tuchel was unapologetic about the decisions, framing them around collective rather than individual merit. "I think from day one, we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect 26 most talented players," he said. "Teams win championships. It's as simple as that." The omissions carry considerable weight: Foden was named England's double player of the year just two seasons ago and started every match on England's run to the Euro 2024 final, while Palmer — who scored in that final against Spain — was widely regarded as one of the country's brightest attacking talents. Maguire said he was "shocked and gutted" to be excluded. Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid earlier this year, was hampered by injuries and lost his place to Chelsea captain Reece James and Newcastle's Tino Livramento.
The reasoning behind the cuts is rooted in form. Both Foden and Palmer endured inconsistent club seasons — Palmer has not scored in his last 14 appearances for club and country, while Foden was reduced to a non-playing substitute in Manchester City's FA Cup final victory last week. The core of the squad remains intact, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all included. Surprise selections include Ivan Toney, the striker who moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli after Euro 2024 and has largely been absent from the international picture since, as well as Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United midfielder who rebuilt his club career under incoming manager Michael Carrick. Veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson, 35, returns for what would be a seventh major tournament. Arsenal, who this week claimed their first Premier League title since 2004, contribute four players: Saka, Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, both of whom will attend their first World Cup. Marcus Rashford, dropped from the Euro 2024 squad, earns a recall after a resurgent season at Barcelona.
England, whose only men's World Cup victory came on home soil in 1966, open their tournament on 17 June against Croatia in Arlington, Texas. They are drawn in Group L alongside Ghana and Panama. Tuchel's selections suggest he is prioritising team cohesion and in-form players over reputation — a gamble that will be scrutinised closely once the tournament begins.