
Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire the headline omissions.
Names both in and out of the squad started to leak on Thursday, with Maguire releasing a statement that he had not been named in Tuchel’s final 26.
Foden and Palmer were victims in a fierce battle for the No 10 role, with largely frustrating seasons for their clubs, Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively, being the deciding factor, as well as failing to impress in the March internationals. Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham won out to book their places in the squad.
England dominated Group K in Uefa qualifying to book their place at this summer’s World Cup, winning all eight games without conceding a goal. But they disappointed in those March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Probably the biggest surprise call-up was Ivan Toney, who plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.
“He’s a speciality,” Theo Walcott said on the Official England App. “He’s not there on penalties alone; it shows it doesn’t matter where you play. There’s always a debate; you have to trust the manager, he’s seen what we’ve not seen.”
Here are the final 26 names for the Three Lions, as Tuchel begins his quest to land a second star on the shirt this summer in the USA, with the final scheduled for 19 July in New York.
England squad for 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Reece James, Tino Livramento, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, Nico O’Reilly
Midfielders: Elliott Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney

Which omission from Tuchel’s squad surprises you most?
Tuchel appears determined to make bold calls ahead of England’s bid to end 60 years of hurt, prioritising form, balance and tactical fit over reputation alone.
But have the right decisions been made? Should experience still count at tournament level? And are there any omissions that could come back to haunt England later this summer? Vote in our poll:
Share your thoughts on Tuchel’s selections in the comments below.

