Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America, making a series of bold exclusions while handing a surprise recall to striker Ivan Toney.
The selection left several household names on the outside. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire were notable omissions from the squad Tuchel confirmed, and Tuchel personally phoned around 50 players over Thursday and Friday to tell them whether they had made the cut.
Tuchel said the decisions were difficult but deliberate: he wanted to recreate the balance and energy he saw in recent camps and relied heavily on the group that featured in September, October and November. He emphasised choosing players who fit his tactical plan and the spirit he wants to build, even if that meant leaving big reputations at home.
Full 26-man 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 Guehi (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)
Key inclusions and absences
Ivan Toney is the biggest surprise. He has played only a handful of minutes for England since Euro 2024, but his prolific season in Saudi Arabia — 32 goals in 32 league games for Al-Ahli this campaign — earned him a place as a potential impact target man alongside Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins.
Tuchel has also included versatile options such as Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah, and maintained experience via the likes of John Stones and Jordan Henderson. Bournemouth right-back Alex Scott will join the squad in Miami after Tuchel arranged late reinforcement from players who are delayed by club commitments.
High-profile players left out include:
– Cole Palmer and Phil Foden: Both missed out after mixed club seasons and because Tuchel opted not to overload the squad with No.10-type attackers.
– Trent Alexander-Arnold: The Real Madrid right-back has not been capped since last summer and was omitted.
– Harry Maguire: The veteran defender expressed his disappointment publicly after learning he had been left out.
Other notable absences are Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton, Lewis Hall, Luke Shaw and Jarrod Bowen. The squad also features no Liverpool players — the first England tournament squad without a Liverpool representative since 1986.
Reactions and analysis
Broad reaction to the list has been mixed. Some pundits and fans hailed Tuchel for making tough, principled choices and prioritising form, balance and tactical fit over reputation. Others described the selection as shocking, comparing its surprise factor to past contentious England squads.
Sky Sports and other analysts highlighted the debate over No.10 options — Tuchel has many creative players to choose from and had to limit how many specialists he took. Commentators also noted that selecting Toney makes sense tactically: his goalscoring form, experience in hot climates and ability to serve as an aerial option late in games are factors that work for World Cup scenarios.
Injury and fitness notes
Tino Livramento made the squad despite a recent thigh problem, and Djed Spence was included despite breaking his jaw. Tuchel appears willing to manage several players’ fitness issues in the run-up to the tournament.
Preparation and schedule
England depart for the United States on Monday, June 1 and will base themselves at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City during the tournament. They play two warm-up matches: New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10 (both 21:00 UK time). Tuchel has said the focus will be on the training camp and taking manageable steps toward the tournament goal.
World Cup Group L fixtures
– England vs Croatia — June 17, Dallas (21:00 UK)
– England vs Ghana — June 23, Boston (21:00 UK)
– Panama vs England — June 27, New York/New Jersey (22:00 UK)
Tournament timeline
– Group stage: June 11–27
– Round of 32: June 28–July 3
– Round of 16: July 4–7
– Quarter-finals: July 9–11
– Semi-finals: July 14–15
– Third-place play-off: July 18
– Final: July 19
What’s next
Tuchel’s squad announcement sets up a period of intense scrutiny and speculation as England prepare for their warm-ups and finalise their starting plans. The manager’s clear message is that selections were based on recent evidence, tactical needs and the group dynamics he wants to recreate — a stance that has already sparked debate but also demonstrated his willingness to make uncompromising calls ahead of the World Cup.