Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Thursday, 21 May 2026 19:36 / Updated on Thursday, 21 May 2026 20:21
The press in England announces an impact decision before the World Championship in 2026, a competition that will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire would not be on coach Thomas Tuchel's final list, and the news would have been received with surprise by the player.
UPDATE // Harry Maguire, the first reaction after not being invited to the World Championship
The Manchester United defender confirmed he was affected by the coach's decision and spoke of his shock after being left out of the World Cup squad.
“I was confident that I could have played a big role this summer for my country after the season I had. I was shocked and devastated by the decision. I loved nothing more than to pull on that shirt and represent my country throughout the yearr. I wish all the players the best of luck this summer,” Maguire said on his official accounts.
The original news
Maguire will not be called up for the World Championship
According to information from the English media, Harry Maguire will not be included in the final squad for the final tournament, and his absence is considered one of the big surprises of the selection, especially in the context of his recent return to the national team.
In March, Tuchel recalled him to the England national team and used him in the games with Uruguay and Japan. That call-up marked the defender's return to the Three Lions for the first time since September 2024, when Lee Carsley was manager.
Now, just months away, Maguire would once again miss a major competition, this time the World Championship.
Maguire was surprised by the decision
According to thesun.ie, the defender would have been taken by surprise by Thomas Tuchel's decision, in the context in which he hoped to catch the final group of 26 players.
An England international since 2017, Harry Maguire has 66 caps and 7 goals for England and has been a constant presence over the past decade.
The defender featured in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as well as Euro 2020, all under Gareth Southgate. However, he missed Euro 2024 due to injury, although he later regained his place in the national team.
In the current season, Maguire has ticked off 24 matches for Manchester United, but his performances have not been enough to convince Tuchel.
England's official World Cup call-up is due to be announced on Friday 22 May.
-
Harry Maguire made his England debut on 7 October 2017 in a 1–0 win against Lithuania. His last appearance was on 31 March 2026, in a friendly lost to Japan, 0–1, when he came on for the last 7 minutes.
