Thomas Tuchel has defended his England World Cup squad, saying he picked ‘specialists’ to build a tight-knit group capable of winning the tournament.
The England manager made several headline-grabbing calls: Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Harry Maguire were omitted, Trent Alexander-Arnold remains outside the squad, and Ivan Toney was recalled despite limited minutes under Tuchel so far. Tuchel said he personally phoned around 50 players on Thursday and Friday to inform them whether they had made the 26-man roster.
‘From day one we were clear we were trying to build the best possible team, which is not necessarily the 26 most talented players,’ Tuchel said. He emphasised team identity and commitment, saying squads win championships and that he wanted players prepared to buy into an unselfish, collective approach.
Tuchel explained his selection philosophy in practical terms: he wanted players who could fill specialist roles in different scenarios — protecting a lead, chasing a game, delivering set-pieces, and converting penalties. He argued that those specialists give the squad clarity and a competitive edge, even if tough decisions meant leaving ‘extraordinary players’ at home.
On roles and clarity, Tuchel pointed to the No.10 options: Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze now have defined roles in his plans. He said giving clear responsibilities was a priority in shaping the squad.
Toney recall
The inclusion of Ivan Toney was one of the biggest surprises. Tuchel admitted it was ‘a bit of a surprise to us’ but said strong feedback from Toney’s club coach, Matthias Jaissle — who Tuchel managed in Stuttgart’s youth setup — and Toney’s prolific season in Saudi Arabia convinced him. Toney has scored 32 goals in 32 games for Al Ahli this season, and Tuchel believes he offers a different kind of impact off the bench: a box presence who can distract defenders, finish chances, help on set-pieces and is a ‘world-class’ penalty taker.
What it will take to win
Asked what England need to win the World Cup, Tuchel listed a mix of practical and psychological factors: a bit of luck, the right selection, good health, momentum, a brotherhood within the squad, courage, hunger and seizing special moments. He warned knockout football is a game of margins that requires ‘nerves of steel’ and said the team had set the goal early in camp and would focus on the factors they can control.
Tuchel also noted workload concerns. With some players due to play European finals, managing fatigue after a long season will be important. He called the Premier League the most competitive league in the world and accepted its demands affect players’ fitness heading into the summer.
Responding to Maguire and defensive choices
Harry Maguire, who had a strong run of starts for Manchester United, expressed that he was ‘shocked and gutted’ to be left out after news of the omission leaked. Tuchel said he was surprised by Maguire’s public reaction but respected him and understood his disappointment. He reiterated that his defensive selections were based on players who performed for England in the September–November internationals and who form the leadership core that set standards during that period.
John Stones made the squad despite limited Premier League starts this season. Tuchel defended the decision, calling Stones a ‘world-class player’ with excellent character and a proven winner. Tuchel also backed Djed Spence, praising his pace, one-on-one defending and versatility to play on either flank — attributes Tuchel said make him a special option.
Support squad additions
Tuchel revealed that Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and one more unconfirmed player will join the training group in the USA to help with numbers in sessions. The Arsenal players are set to join after their Champions League commitments.
England’s 2026 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Man City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), John Stones (Man City), Marc Guéhi (Man City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Man City), Djed Spence (Tottenham), Tino Livramento (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of the conversations with players left out and said the decisions were made with the team’s objective in mind. He believes the selected group provides the balance, specialist skills and collective spirit necessary to challenge for the trophy this summer.