Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Friday, May 22, 2026, 12:23 / Updated Friday, May 22, 2026 12:31
The England national team recently presented their squad that Thomas Tuchel will rely on for this summer's World Cup. There are major surprises in the squad of “The Three Lions”: the selector left home big names, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire, the captain of the last years. The complete list, in the lines below.
- England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The English debut on June 17, in Arlington, Texas, in the company of the Croatians.
The heated debates on the German coach's selection started last night, and continued throughout Friday, when the official list was published.
Resounding absences in the England squad for the World Cup
Among the 26 footballers that Tuchel will rely on in the States are not some of the “heavies” of the last final tournaments. The most resounding absences are obvious: Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire.
They are joined by Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Dominic Solanke, among others.
“I like difficult decisions,” Tuchel said when the squad was announced, according to SkySports.
The Sun writes that the excitement surrounding the announcement was so great that the official app of the national team of England failed just as the batch was supposed to be made public!
So, England is attacking the World Cup with a squad in which 18 players have never participated in a World Championship, the journalists of the cited source mention.
In total, only eight survivors of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are in the current squad: Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford.
The changes are less dramatic than the Euro 2024 squad, with Gareth Southgate's successor retaining 14 of the players who reached the final of the competition, The Sun points out.
England squad for WC 2026
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Nico O'Reilly, Djed Spence, Tino Livramento
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, , Eberechi Eze
Strikers: Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke
Maguire: 'I'm shocked and devastated'
Extremely disappointed, Maguire posted on social media that he was “shocked and devastated” of the fact that he missed the convocation. Tuchel has been briefing the players since Thursday and the constant flow of information has allowed the media to reconstruct the squad in advance.
England will depart for the United States on Monday 1 June, 16 days before their opening group game against Croatia (Wednesday 17 June).
Foden, Palmer and Trent are also OUT
Phill Foden and Cole Palmer are the biggest names missing, after below-par seasons at Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, but also due to fierce competition for their positions.
Real Madrid right-back Alexander-Arnold is another notable absentee, although his absence is more predictable, given that he hasn't played for the national team since last summer.
