Thomas Tuchel has unveiled his 26-man England squad for the World Cup with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden among the high-profile omissions.
A competitive fight for creative places has seen the pair pay for their mixed club form this season, with Morgan Gibbs-White another left out despite his impressive recent performances for Nottingham Forest. Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke do make it, though, having helped Arsenal secure the Premier League title, while Kobbie Mainoo is also in the midfield mix.
Defensively, veteran Harry Maguire is overlooked having hoped to make a third World Cup with Djed Spence a fascinating call-up to cover both full-back positions. Jarell Quansah, well liked by Tuchel, offers centre-back depth while both John Stones and Reece James appear primed to be key figures despite concerns over their fitness this season. England open their tournament against Croatia on 17 June and also face Ghana and Panama in Group L.
Follow all of the latest from Wembley with our live blog below:
England World Cup squad announcement LIVE
- The England World Cup squad confirmed in full
- MIGUEL DELANEY: Why Thomas Tuchel got it right with England’s imperfect World Cup squad
- LAWRENCE OSTLERE: The logic behind Thomas Tuchel picking Ivan Toney
- Tuchel explains squad selections and need for balance
- Tuchel wants England to 'challenge' in World Cup
- Phil Foden and Cole Palmer miss out due to No.10 competition
Thomas Tuchel reveals ‘clear the air’ talks with Ivan Toney before surprise call-up to World Cup squad
19:25 , Miguel Delaney
Thomas Tuchel had to have “clear-the-air” talks with Ivan Toney before considering the striker’s recall for the 2026 World Cup, as he revealed he was “not happy” with “the level of training and level of commitment” in last year’s June camp.
The England manager nevertheless re-opened communication with Toney around the period of putting in the provisional 55-man list a few weeks ago, after a frank chat saw them start anew.
On considering the various “obstacles” and “scenarios” of the expanded 48-team World Cup in testing conditions, Tuchel gradually realised that the Al Ahli striker offered many solutions – enough to edge out Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was close to a call-up.
Tuchel reveals ‘clear the air’ talks with Toney before surprise World Cup call-up
WATCH: Tuchel learns of Pep Guardiola quitting Man City during England World Cup presser
19:00 , Will Castle
The four extra England players called up by Thomas Tuchel to help prepare for World Cup friendlies
18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Alex Scott, Josh King, Rio Ngumoha and one other player will join up with the England squad for two warm-up friendlies ahead of the World Cup.
Tuchel has named his 26-man squad for the tournament in North America, but not all of those included will be able to be integrated immediately as they conclude their club seasons.
Arsenal’s quartet – Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke – will be involved in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May and will have a delayed arrival into camp, while Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson is set to feature in the Conference League decider on 27 May.
England will travel to Florida to prepare for the tournament, with friendlies scheduled against New Zealand and Costa Rica on 6 and 10 June respectively.
To ensure he has a full squad to pick from and manage the minutes of a number of key players, Tuchel has moved to bring four youngsters into his squad.
The four extra England players called up by Tuchel to help prepare for World Cup
The snubbed England XI after Thomas Tuchel confirms World Cup squad England
18:00 , Will Castle
It’s safe to say that Thomas Tuchel raised some eyebrows as a number of big names were omitted from his 26-man England squad heading to the World Cup.
While Ivan Toney snatched the headlines with his shock call-up, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were among the high-profile absentees, with intense competition in creative positions seeing the pair pay for their mixed club form this season.
Harry Maguire was particularly vocal about his own omission, taking to social media to say he was “shocked and gutted” to learn the news that he would had not been selected to participate at a third World Cup.
With the Three Lions bidding to end 60 years of hurt across the Atlantic this summer, there will be a wealth of English talent watching from home - to the point where Tuchel basically has an entire team of established internationals waiting in reserve...
The not-so-hidden message in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup press conference
17:30 , Lawrence Ostlere
Thomas Tuchel can occasionally be careless with his words, like the time he said his mum found Jude Bellingham’s on-field behaviour “repulsive”.
It provoked an apology and Tuchel blamed a slip of the tongue in his second language, even though his command of English is better than most of us writing up the story.
He rarely stops to think too hard about how the media will interpret his words, in the way his predecessor Gareth Southgate was so deliberate and precise.
The not-so-hidden message in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup press conference
The confusion over Phil Foden’s best position that saw him left out of England’s World Cup squad
17:00 , Miguel Delaney
Phil Foden had so lost form for Manchester City that Thomas Tuchel wasn’t even sure what his position was, the England manager revealed in explaining his World Cup squad selection.
The German added that it “hurt me a lot” to leave the 25-year-old out, and that it affected the forward, especially given how “excellent” he has been for the camp.
The confusion over Foden’s best position that led to World Cup squad snub
Arsenal players will arrive late
16:45 , Mike Jones
Arsenal take on PSG in the Champions League final at the end of May with England’s squad due to arrive together on June 1st.
Thomas Tuchel admitted that the players featuring in Arsenal’s squad will arrive late to the World Cup camp.
“They will not be with us on 1 June, we decided to have a pre-camp in the USA to get used to the humidity and heat,” he said.
“It's a clear recommendation from the specialists. We'll have two friendly matches, it's not a selection camp, that's done. I hope the energy will be more relaxed, morning sessions and meetings to connect with our identity.
“The afternoons they can relax, meet friends and families at the hotel, more relaxed in the first 10 days.
“We'll use the first two friendlies to give rhythm. Arsenal players will come later. We'll bring young and promising players with us to train with us."
The biggest surprise?
16:30 , Mike Jones
Ivan Toney’s call up to the England team is perhaps the biggest surprise of the lot.
However, he has scored 32 goals in 32 games for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli this season.
He is also a penalty specialist and could play a part when it comes to the knockout rounds.
Dan Burn reacts to England call-up
16:15 , Mike Jones
At 34-years-old Dan Burn has received his first World Cup call up.
He’ll be part of the England squad in the United States and is excited about the prospect of play in the World Cup this summer.
“I was pretty confident about it but until you’re called you don’t know. I compare it to when we won the [Carabao Cup] final [with Newcastle],” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve dreamt about that much since I was a kid that when it happened, you don’t really know how to feel about it.
“I’m not going into it with the unknown. I’ve over 500 games now and at every level I feel like I’ve played well and every time I’ve made a step up in competiton.
“I’m not going there worried, I’m going full of confidence and just wanting to help the team in however I’m asked to do that. It’s very exciting.”
England World Cup 2026 squad in full unveiled
16:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
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.
England World Cup 2026 squad in full unveiled
Spence is unique
15:50 , Mike Jones
It is Djed Spence’s unique qualities which drew Thomas Tuchel to selecting him for the England squad.
The manager explained: "We had this discussion, to be very open to you, before the March camp, with Djed. We said ‘we’re a bit concerned at Tottenham what is going on, you don’t have the minutes, you don’t have the impact we want to see from you.
“If you come here in March, we want to see you prove yourself again’, which he honestly did. Both of our full-backs, Tino and Djed, were just excellent against Uruguay.
"That was basically the decision, I can trust him and he adds something to our group which makes him unique."
Tuchel on Djed Spence inclusion
15:40 , Mike Jones
The England boss said: "First of all, he was excellent in every single match he played for us. He suffers from the third change of coach at his club. Since then, he doesn’t get a lot of minutes. Of course, he suffers from the situation. He is part of the situation as well at Tottenham.
"He brings somethings to the group that we don’t have in his profile. He loves defending. He is the fastest player in our squad and he loves to defend in one on ones. That is just the characteristic that I would say makes him stand out. He’s a full-back first and a bit of a special full-back for us as well. On top of that, he can play both sides.”
Thomas Tuchel praises ‘one of a kind’ Pep Guardiola
15:30 , Mike Jones
England boss Thomas Tuchel described the impact of outgoing Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola as “one of a kind”.
“The impact he had on every league where he trained, it’s just one of a kind, just one of the very, very, very best,” Tuchel said.
“He made a big revolution with the way he played at Barcelona and then he put everything upside down in the German league, and then he comes here and crushes every record.
“It’s just outstanding. There are no words that can describe this determination and this level of input, it’s just highest, highest level.
The four extra England players called up by Thomas Tuchel to help prepare for World Cup friendlies
15:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Alex Scott, Josh King, Rio Ngumoha and one other player will join up with the England squad for two warm-up friendlies ahead of the World Cup.
Tuchel has named his 26-man squad for the tournament in North America, but not all of those included will be able to be integrated immediately as they conclude their club seasons.
The four extra England players called up by Tuchel to help prepare for World Cup
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
15:10 , Mike Jones
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Perhaps not a surprise given his lowly place in the pecking order has been signalled over the last 12 months, but Trent Alexander-Arnold may wonder if a different coach would want to at least have him as an option.
A Premier League and Champions League-winning right-back, he was reinvented as a midfielder by Southgate at Euro 2024 but the intervening period has seen others emerge to push him out.
An injury-disrupted season at Real Madrid did not help his cause.
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
15:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Adam Wharton
A player whose time in an England shirt will surely come, plenty may wonder why that time is not now.
Adam Wharton would have offered a different option in midfield with his ability as a progressive passer on show throughout Crystal Palace’s campaign.
It may be that finding a spot for him was tricky given there were perhaps more versatile or experienced options available, though Wharton can count himself unfortunate.
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Harry Maguire
A stalwart of English sides over the last decade, Harry Maguire’s game has always suited international football with his defensive solidity, range of passing and ability to be a threat in the other box.
The 33-year-old has looked in fine fettle for Manchester United since the installation of Michael Carrick and would have been able to lend his tournament experience to the group.
Tuchel has looked elsewhere, though, with Maguire confirming his omission on Thursday evening. “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision,” the centre-back said on Instagram, with his international future maybe in doubt.
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Morgan Gibbs-White
Form was not a question for Morgan Gibbs-White, who has finished the season superbly to power a turnaround for Nottingham Forest.
Heading into the final round of Premier League fixtures, Gibbs-White is tied as a top English scorer with 14 goals and has a strong connection with Elliot Anderson in midfield. Again, though, the competitive fight for creative places has counted against him.
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
14:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Cole Palmer
The crowded fight for playmaking places has also squeezed out Cole Palmer, in perhaps even a greater shock. It is not even 12 months since Palmer was player of the match in both the Conference League and Club World Cup finals, and while his form has flitted a touch this season, that has been in part due to the chaos of Chelsea.
Concerns over his sharpness remain, though, after a heavy workload in the 2024/25 season, and Tuchel may have wondered what his ideal role in the side was – in the end, the England manager has decided that the best place for Palmer is on the outside looking in.
Six biggest omissions from England’s World Cup squad
14:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Phil Foden
It would have been unthinkable for this squad to not include Phil Foden a couple of years ago when the Manchester City playmaker was at his best, with Foden emerging as a key figure in the latter days of the Gareth Southgate era. But the 25-year-old has found himself pushed to the fringes in Pep Guardiola’s squad this season after struggling for form early in the campaign, and his recent strong showings have not been enough to force his way in. It is surely a gamble, though, for Tuchel to overlook him and...
Tuchel surprised by Maguire's statement after shock World Cup emission
14:10 , Mike Jones
Take a look at Thomas Tuchel’s reaction to Harry Maguire being shocked at his World Cup squad omission.
Will Stones be ready to play?
14:00 , Mike Jones
Tuchel said: “I think we can advantage to our late start in the tournament in this case. We still have over four weeks until our first match.
“We will reconnect with our principles.
“We have the chance to let him play two friendly matches and then I hope and truly believe he will have a strong tournament for us."
Why was John Stones selected?
13:50 , Mike Jones
Another question posed to the England boss who replied: "He’s excited to come and I am excited to have him. I am a huge believer in John. I believe he is a world class player, an amazing character and a proven winner.
“He knows how to adapt to a winning culture. He knows how to adapt tactically on the field.
"He is still on the highest level when I see him play, when I see him move. We analysed a lot of his training data because I get your question, there is not a lot of proof in the last half of the season unfortunately.
“The good news is he was available. He was not out, he was available. The bad news was he wasn’t selected as much as we all hoped for.”
Tuchel on Rogers and Bellingham
13:40 , Mike Jones
He said: "They know their roles, I have no doubt that we chose the right players and I have no doubt that Jude and Morgan will get along very well and I have no doubt that they both will be decisive for us."
Tuchel learns of Pep Guardiola quitting Man City during England World Cup presser
13:30 , Mike Jones
There has been quite a lot of breaking news this morning with Michael Carrick confirmed as Manchester United boss and Pep Guardiola announcing his departure from Man City.
Tuchel learned about the latter whilst doing his press conference explaining his squad decisions.
Players can push for places
13:20 , Mike Jones
"They are just two of the names [Rogers and Bellingham] who are potential starters in the same position,” Tuchel said.
“There is still variety in these positions, so they can also play together, that should not be a problem.
"If they compete for one position through the tournament, I think it is possible to compete as accomplices and you don't have to be enemies.
“In the example of Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham, they are friends anyway. We have a couple of others. Bukayo Saka, Noni who fight for the same place in the club.
“I strongly believe it is possible that you fight for your place and still push your friend, colleague, especially in international football to the best possible performance. We took a lot of care about that, this energy is right.”
England’s 2026 World Cup squad is here – but can they go all the way?
13:10 , Mike Jones
England head to the 2026 World Cup carrying the same burden they always do: expectation.
Nearly 60 years on from their only major trophy, the Three Lions once again arrive at a tournament with one of the most talented squads in world football – but also with familiar questions hanging over them.
Vote in our poll below and share your verdict in the comments.
England’s World Cup squad is here – but can they go all the way?
'We will try to win the tournament'
13:00 , Mike Jones
"This is how I want the team to play, this is how I want the team to develop,” Tuchel continued
“This is why we picked that squad and this is why I’m so sure we picked the right squad. It is about building a brotherhood. It is about building excitement and a certain energy.
"Then I feel we can transmit this to our fans who are either in the stadium or back here in England pushing. Once we get this energy right, everything is possible. We said it very early, we will try to go all the way. We will try to win this tournament.”
Tuchel wants England to 'challenge'
12:50 , Mike Jones
The England manager was also asked how he plans on helping England end a 60-year wait to win the World Cup.
He said: "I heard recently a quote from Rafa Nadal, who said ‘I’m not a winner, I am a competitor, I’m a challenger’.
“That is basically how I arrive in the US for this tournament. I arrive with hunger, I arrive with excitement and I arrive as a competitor and as a challenger.
“I think that is the role for us as a team.”
Tuchel on including extra players in travel plans
12:40 , Mike Jones
"I think Dean [Henderson] is not an issue, we have Jason Steele in camp. We can start with three goalkeepers and we have four,” he said when explained which extra players will travel with the squad.
Tuchel added: "We will take some young players out who will train with us and keep the squad in the size that we need, we have all the possibilities for the two friendly matches to take care about the minutes and the load off the players so this will be Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and there will be one more player which we cannot name because it is not confirmed yet.
“I am happy that these guys are with us, especially Alex who was even on the list of 55 and had a disappointing phone call as well, that he didn't make the first cut but the reaction was outstanding - the commitment, the wish to be in pre-camp and to just be a step closer to the team showed me his character.
“I am delighted he is with us because he was a close call and gets a chance to take a step closer and to get a cap."
Tuchel on how England's leadership group was formed
12:30 , Mike Jones
"We had a March camp and we had a June camp and it was pretty clear for us who should be in there,” he said.
“I see no value in sharing it with you to be honest, so I will keep it to myself.
"It’s a group of five or six players and there is always like a fluidity that is possible in the group, but they took ownership. They took care and they were massively influential.
"I was very, very happy with the way they acted and interacted and how they stepped up, so there is no need to change that."
Thomas Tuchel explains reasons behind Cole Palmer and Phil Foden omissions
12:20 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel rasied a few eyebrows with the selections for his 26-man England squad to take to the World Cup and there are plenty of big-name players who have been excluded.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire was ‘shocked’ and ‘gutted’ about missing out on one of the places for defence but there were surprises in midfield too as neither Manchester City’s Phil Foden nor Chelsea’s Cole Palmer were included in the squad.
Thomas Tuchel explains reasons behind Cole Palmer and Phil Foden omissions
Tuchel on Maguire
12:10 , Mike Jones
More from Tuchel speaking about Harry Maguire. He said: "Still I was a bit surprised because we had a private conversation and he had the chance to express his feelings which he did and this is fair enough because I can see all the reasons why he could be in the squad.
“But, the decision is that we stood firmly with our central defenders that carried us through September, October and November.
"Some of them are part of the leadership group that took ownership and set the standards high. It was a decision for these 26 players, even if it feels against individuals."
Tuchel surprised by Maguire statement
12:05 , Mike Jones
The England boss also addressed the statement from Harry Maguire last night in which the defender expressed shock at being left out of the squad.
"I was a bit surprised, but I respect his personality a lot, I respect his quality a lot,” Tuchel said.
“He has had an outstanding season, I can see the disappointment, I can see the reason behind the disappointment.”
Why Thomas Tuchel was right to pick Ivan Toney, England’s emergency hammer
12:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
In case of emergency, break glass.
Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad was largely as predicted, bar perhaps a Djed Spence here and a Cole Palmer there, but there was a surprise when Ivan Toney’s name emerged in the frame on Thursday, England’s window hammer.
Why Thomas Tuchel was right to pick Ivan Toney, England’s emergency hammer
Tuchel confident in group picked
11:57 , Mike Jones
Tuchel also explained that he had no fear in leaving world class talents like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home.
"No, I don’t fear because I am very confident in the group that we chose of which we arrive with,” said the England boss.
“Very difficult decisions, painful conversations. Difficult for the players, difficult to explain to the players. What we’re trying to achieve as a team and we try to nominate a balanced squad.
“If everyone is selected, it was a given that from these 55 players, we have to leave some extraordinary talents, some extraordinary personalities at home.”
Why Thomas Tuchel got it right with England’s imperfect World Cup squad
11:44 , Miguel Delaney
Thomas Tuchel spent around four hours on Thursday calling disappointed England players, to explain to them that the rationale for his 26-man squad was one that could navigate every element of a possible seven-week campaign,
This is the biggest World Cup ever, so it contains more variables than any other - above all, the conditions. Tuchel, rather than just assembling the best names, has ultimately tried to cater for every obstacle they may face.
Why Thomas Tuchel got it right with England’s imperfect World Cup squad
Tuchel on telling players they'd missed out
11:40 , Mike Jones
The England boss says it was a tough and painful decision to leave players out of the squad and explained how he told the players who have missed out.
“It is important for me to say that I am very grateful to all the players who have helped us qualify, to the players who have had one of six camps with us,” he said.
“Very grateful and I tried to show my respect and appreciation for what they have done, in telling them in person or phone calls in the last three days about my decision.
"So I called every player that was at least once with us, personally, to tell them my decision, even if it was a painful decision or it was a disappointing message.
“We believe it has to be delivered from me, I will not go into details of course but I tried to explain and express my appreciation and respect for the player."
The leaders create culture and set the tone
11:35 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel explained how important the leadership group is for England.
He said: "We have a decent leadership group in camp. The leadership group took care and ownership in a very special way, from September onwards.
"They created a culture, they set the tone, they set the standards created and took care of the standards and we were very happy with that and that is why the maturity of this team and selection is from the players who were with us in September, October and November.”
Tuchel has prepared for different scenarios
11:31 , Mike Jones
He explained: “We have specialists with us, specialists for all kinds of different scenarios, when we are leading, when we are chasing a game, a result.
“We've always said we want to be a strong set-piece team, so we have specialists for that and we want to be a strong penalty team, we have specialists for that."
Tuchel on players pushing to start
11:28 , Mike Jones
The England boss added: "The squad has a significant number of players that will compete for starting minutes and starting places, that also gives us the chance to rotate on a high level and a significant number of players who carry the sportive responsibility on the highest level.
“We have a huge chunk of youthfulness in the squad. We have six players who have won titles with the under-21s. We have Kobbie [Mainoo], who is still young and has won his titles, we have Nico O'Reilly on top who is young and already won his medals.”
Players called up for friendlies
11:25 , Mike Jones
With Arsenal’s players arriving to the England camp late due to the Champions League final, there will be four players travelling with the squad to feature in the pre-tournament friendlies.
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed three of them. They are: Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, and Josh King.
Tuchel on squad selections
11:21 , Mike Jones
He added: "We chose a very balanced squad, we chose three goalkeepers, plus Jason Steele. I want to take the opportunity and thank Jason for being brilliant and thank Brighton for being so cooperative and supportive.
"We choose nine defenders for four positions, we chose seven midfielders for three positions and we chose seven strikers for three positions.
"I can assure every fan in the country that we have 26 100% committed players in camp with us, who know their role, who are ready to buy into their role, on and off the pitch, who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish."
Tuchel surprised by Maguire's statement
11:17 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel was asked how he felt about Harry Maguire’s statement last night saying he was ‘shocked’ and ‘gutted’ not to be selected.
The England ackowledged Maguire’s feelings and his personality to speak out.
Teams win championships
11:15 , Mike Jones
More from Tuchel who explained: "Of course you saw our squad selection for the World Cup, which is an exciting day for me and for everyone selected.
"I think from day one we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players.
"Teams win championships, it is as simple as that. What we are trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team."
Tuchel explains difficult decision to leave out Foden and Palmer
11:11 , Mike Jones
He said: “No, I don’t fear [leaving them at home]. I’m confident in the squad we chose.
“It’s difficult for the players and to explain to the players. What we’re trying to achieve is a balanced squad.
“From 55 players we had to leave some extraordinary players at home. I like these kinds of decisions even if they took us weeks and months to come to them.
“I tried to explain the reasons to the players. Did they do anything wrong? No. We didn’t want to play them out of position so much.”
Tuchel on Toney's inclusion
11:09 , Mike Jones
Tuchel explained: “Also a surprise to us. When it came down to all different kinds of scenarios he came back into the picture.
“I had fantastic feedback from his club coach. We could see he still collects the numbers.
“I think he can be a valuable addition to Harry Kane, a presence in the box when we’re chasing a goal. He’s a natural finisher and can help us with set pieces.
“Not to forget he’s a natural penalty taker. He ticks some boxes we wanted to be ticked.”
The players are committed
11:07 , Mike Jones
Here’s more from Tuchel explaining his squad selections:
“We have 26, 100% committed players with us who know their role, who are ready and who are committed to team spirit.
“The squad has a significant number of players who will compete for starting positions and playing minutes.
“We have six players who won titles with the Under 21s.”
Thomas Tuchel address the media
11:03 , Mike Jones
Here’s the England manager speaking to the mainstream media.
He begins: “I think from day one we were clear in trying to select the best possible team.
“Which is not necessarily to collect the 26 best individual players. Teams win championships.”
Watch live: Thomas Tuchel holds England World Cup squad press conference
11:00 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel is holding a press conference shortly with the mainstream media to discuss his squad selections.
After the announcement on the app earlier today, you can watch the press conference live here:
Watch live: Thomas Tuchel holds England World Cup squad press conference
Palmer and Magurie the shock omissions
10:57 , Mike Jones
We posted a poll earlier in the day about which of the England omissions were the most surprising.
Here are the results from over 2000 voters:
Harry Maguire 37%
Cole Palmer 31%
Phil Foden 13%
Morgan Gibbs-White 9%
Trent Alexander-Arnold 6%
Adam Wharton 4%
Dan Burn reacts to England call-up
10:53 , Mike Jones
At 34-years-old Dan Burn has received his first World Cup call up.
He’ll be part of the England squad in the United States and is excited about the prospect of play in the World Cup this summer.
“I was pretty confident about it but until you’re called you don’t know. I compare it to when we won the [Carabao Cup] final [with Newcastle],” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve dreamt about that much since I was a kid that when it happened, you don’t really know how to feel about it.
“I’m not going into it with the unknown. I’ve over 500 games now and at every level I feel like I’ve played well and every time I’ve made a step up in competiton.
“I’m not going there worried, I’m going full of confidence and just wanting to help the team in however I’m asked to do that. It’s very exciting.”
The biggest surprise?
10:48 , Mike Jones
Ivan Toney’s call up to the England team is perhaps the biggest surprise of the lot.
However, he has scored 32 goals in 32 games for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli this season.
He is also a penalty specialist and could play a part when it comes to the knockout rounds.
Arsenal players will arrive late
10:43 , Mike Jones
Arsenal take on PSG in the Champions League final at the end of May with England’s squad due to arrive together on June 1st.
Thomas Tuchel admitted that the players featuring in Arsenal’s squad will arrive late to the World Cup camp.
“They will not be with us on 1 June, we decided to have a pre-camp in the USA to get used to the humidity and heat,” he said.
“It's a clear recommendation from the specialists. We'll have two friendly matches, it's not a selection camp, that's done. I hope the energy will be more relaxed, morning sessions and meetings to connect with our identity.
“The afternoons they can relax, meet friends and families at the hotel, more relaxed in the first 10 days.
“We'll use the first two friendlies to give rhythm. Arsenal players will come later. We'll bring young and promising players with us to train with us."
England World Cup 2026 squad in full unveiled
10:42 , Lawrence Ostlere
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.
While 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 the deciding factor, as well as failing to impress in the March internationals, with Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham winning out to book their place in the squad.
England World Cup 2026 squad in full unveiled
Will Tuchel adapt and change formation through the tournament?
10:38 , Mike Jones
One of the England fans in the studio asked that question of Thomas Tuchel and the manager gave a pause to think about his answer.
"It's never out of the window, you see we chose three goalkeepers, nine defenders for four poisitons, seven midfielders for three positions, the idea is to stick with the formation,” he replied.
“Adaptation comes with the defensive approach. So much information, it's a strength for us, it should be flexible to adapt the defensive approach, go to the high press. Will we change our structure?
“I think we will try to stick with what makes us strong. We have a key idea, and the players in the key positions, reconnect with our values and principles.
“Over the starting line, push them to find solutions and no tweaking too much tactically."
England squad announcement
10:35 , Mike Jones
Here’s how the England squad was announced on social media.
Come Together. pic.twitter.com/BAsCH4YCjx
— England (@England) May 22, 2026
Sturridge on Tuchel's selections
10:30 , Mike Jones
Here’s Daniel Sturridge speaking on the England App.
He said: “There’s big stories across the board really.
“It’s an incredible selection as well so give the manager credit for going with what he believes is best.”
'It's about chemistry'
10:27 , Mike Jones
"Everything I know about international football, it's about the team and chemistry,” explained Tuchel.
“What we try to achieve can only be achieved as a team, hopefully a long time together.
“If you think everyone, give them a day off, it's tricky, a lot of thinking, soft factors, how do we get the chemistry right.
“I think it's very important that each player knows their role, we chose a very balanced squad."
Why were some of the bigger names omitted?
10:23 , Mike Jones
“Did they do anything wrong? No, sometimes it's a positional thing,” said Tuchel.
“Not bringing five No 10s, then playing out of position, who would benefit from that?
“Even if it's painful, I think it's the right call."
A mix of youth and experience
10:21 , Mike Jones
More from Tuchel on how he decided on the players he wanted in the squad.
He said: “A lot deserved to be with us, we went back to the evidence we had.
“September, October, November, the leadership group, some bigger calls in September, we had some fresh air, younger players, with hunger and excitement.
“Young and old, youthfulness, senior partnerships. It brought the best out of the players, that spirit, we rely heavily on that from three camps.”
'Difficult phone calls'
10:18 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel explained how the process of selecting England’s squad felt.
"Difficult, difficult phone calls, I respect all of them, as players and personalities,” he said.
“They deserved a call-up, from 55, to reduce it, was difficult, sometimes painful. I felt the emotion.
“I called all of them that were with us at least one time, I showed appreciation and respect for what they've done.”
Tuchel wants to recreate spirit
10:14 , Mike Jones
He said: “We want to recreate spirit, that’s why we’re relying on the same group from the three camps.
“We wanted a balanced squad.
“These tough decisions had to be made before the tournament so as not to carry them through the tournament.”
No Liverpool players selected
10:12 , Mike Jones
For the first time since the 1986 World Cup, there will be no Liverpool player in an England squad for a major tournament.
Curtis Jones was the most likely option but, like many midfielders, he has been left at home.
'We build through the tournament'
10:10 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel explained a bit more about his thought process in selecting the England squad.
He said: “We build our way through the tournament, meetings, trainings already, the pre-camp, 10 days, it's planned out.
“Once the decisions are made, it's a different feel, it takes a while, scenarios, hopefully we're together for six weeks, a lot of factors play into it, I like the difficult decisions, it brings clarity and an edge."
More from Tuchel
10:09 , Mike Jones
The England manager said: “A lot of factors play into the nominations process. I love the difficult decisions as they bring clarity.
“It’s hard to please and in the end we have to pick the squad that we are convinced we can trust.
“In the end who do we trust? Who created a culture from September onwards? Who was the leadership group?”
Which omission from Tuchel's World Cup squad surprises you most?
10:07 , Mike Jones
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 polls below and share your verdict on Tuchel’s biggest selection calls yet.
Tuchel talks England squad
10:07 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel said: “It was a lot of phone calls over the last three days and a lot of difficult decisions to make.
“Once the decisions are made it gives you a certain edge and clarity.
“In one week we’re on the plane and I can’t wait to be on the plane and be the coach.”
Walcott calls for trust in Tuchel
10:06 , Mike Jones
Theo Walcott says that England fans must have trust in the manager despite some of the selections he’s made.
Walcott said: “There’ll be lots of players disappointed, rightly so.
“We’ve got to trust the manager as he’s seen lots of things that we haven’t seen.”
Big name omissions
10:02 , Mike Jones
Here are a few of the players that have missed out on the World Cup squad:
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid)
Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
James Garner (Everton)
England World Cup squad
10:00 , Mike Jones
Here it is.
England’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford;
Defenders: Reece James, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Dan Burn;
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliott Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze;
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Ivan Toney, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins
England's World Cup squad announcement
09:55 , Mike Jones
We’re still waiting on the official squad announcement.
On the England app, there’s a lot of preamble that is frustrating and delaying the news.
Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge are talking through their World Cup memories.
England's World Cup squad announcement
09:46 , Mike Jones
Coverage of England’s World Cup squad announcement is beginning on the England App.
The names of the players who have made it will be dropping shortly.
Almost time for the official annoucement
09:42 , Mike Jones
The official England squad for the World Cup will drop on the England App at 9.45am.
So just a few minutes from now.
Kyle Walker, Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge will make the announcement and discuss Tuchel’s selections until the manager himself addresses the media shortly afterwards.
Pick England’s strongest player in each position ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad announcement
09:36 , Mike Jones
England’s World Cup squad announcement is almost here – and Thomas Tuchel still has some huge decisions to make.
The England manager will reveal his 26-man squad on Friday ahead of this summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, with several positions still far from settled.
Below you’ll find two England selector games – split into defence and attack – where you can choose who should start in each key position and compare your picks with the rest of our readers.
Pick England’s strongest player in each position as Tuchel set to reveal squad
When will England prepare for the World Cup?
09:30 , Mike Jones
Once Thomas Tuchel names his squad this morning, the World Cup preparations will begin.
England warm-up for the tournament with friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica.
They then start their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June, before further group games against Ghana and Panama.
Kane targeting World Cup win
09:24 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane, who will definitely be on the plane, has high hopes for the World Cup and wants to bring home the trophy.
He said: "We know how much a World Cup win would mean, not just to us, but to the fans and the country itself.
“That’s what drives us on the pitch, and hopefully we can bring it home for the fans."
England squad 'as good as ever' says Kane
09:18 , Mike Jones
"I think our squad is as good as we’ve ever had. I think when you look at the starting XI, you look at the players coming off the bench, we’re going into the tournament as one of the favourites,” said Harry Kane before the rumours and leaks began last night.
“We’ve been building together as a team over the past few camps under Thomas. I think we’ve set the standard, and now we look forward to continuing this into the World Cup next month.”
No place for Alexander-Arnold
09:06 , Mike Jones
Perhaps the least surprising exclusion of England’s big name stars is Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Real Madrid right-back has not been favoured by Thomas Tuchel in any of the previous camps under the German and as a result will miss out on a place in the squad according to Sky Sports.
35 players were selected for the squad in March and Alexander-Arnold missed out then so isn’t hugely surprising that Tuchel has elected to leave him out.
How to watch England's World Cup squad reveal
09:02 , Mike Jones
England fans will be able to stream the entire World Cup squad reveal and subsequent press conference using the official England app.
To gain access, viewers need to download the application for free via Apple's App Store or Google Play and log in to their registered account.
There will be no traditional live UK TV channel broadcasting the initial reveal show, as the FA has retained exclusive rights for its own digital platform.
Richards tells Tuchel to select Foden
08:59 , Mike Jones
Micah Richards believes that Phil Foden has enough ‘magic’ to deserve to be included in England’s World Cup sqaud despite rumours saying he will not be.
Speaking after Foden starred in a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace nine days ago, Richards said: “As it’s a 26-man squad, there are certain games where teams will play a low block and Foden can unlock the door.
“I know he’s not had the best of seasons. But in a World Cup, when you need something special, he can produce that.
“Tuchel likes Morgan Rogers but in terms of passing and football brain I’d be taking Foden.
“He’s not played well at times for England, it’s not worked for him but he brings something different in a big squad. He’s just got that magic.”
Bellingham or Rogers? Tell us who should be England’s No 10 at the World Cup
08:50 , Mike Jones
Few countries can match England’s depth of attacking talent right now – which is exactly what makes Thomas Tuchel’s No. 10 dilemma so fascinating.
Ahead of today’s World Cup squad announcement, the England manager still faces a huge decision over who should be trusted as the creative heartbeat of his side this summer.
Jude Bellingham may be the established star, but injuries, form and tactical balance have opened the door to serious competition.
Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers has quietly emerged as one of Tuchel’s most trusted options after an outstanding campaign for Aston Villa.
Who should start at No.10 this summer?
Palmer also left behind?
08:43 , Mike Jones
It is also sad news for Chelsea’s talisman Cole Palmer.
Much like Foden, Palmer is a quality technical player but has missed out after an underwhelming campaign.
The sheer intensity of competition for attacking spots made Palmer’s England position uncertain, and his poor performance against Japan only increased the doubts.
Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze can all play in the No. 10 role, while Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke appear likely to be first-choice options on the right flank.
It seems competition has won out over individual talent in this instance. Tuchel has previously acknowledge his lack of fear in dropping some of the bigger names.
Some big names left out
08:34 , Mike Jones
We’ll need to wait and see if the rumours turn out to be true but if that is the case then Thomas Tuchel has made some big calls.
One of them is over Phil Foden’s inclusion.
Foden has not had the greatest of seasons with Manchester City and has seemingly fallen behind Rayan Cherki in the pecking order at the club.
However, he remains an exceptional talent and one that would daunt opposing teams should they see his name on the team sheet.
Tuchel sees it differently though. Foden’s best position is No.10 and England have a gluttony of players that can perform here.
If the rumours are true then Tuchel believes others will do a better job at the tournament than Foden who has reportedly been left out.
No Shaw, Hall or Tomori?
08:26 , Mike Jones
Moving on from Maguire, who is the only player confirmed to be missing out on the squad, we’ll stick to more rumours about England’s possible defence.
Luke Shaw was in a similar situation to Maguire. He was an experienced England international who had a strong season for Manchester United and is an expert in the left-back role which looks slightly weak.
Lewis Hall, similarly, has excelled at left-back for Newcastle this year but the Magpies have had an indifferent year at best (11th in the Premier League).
Fikayo Tomori, meanwhile, is plying his trade in Serie A with AC Milan and was backed to force his way into one of the centre-back spots.
Alas, all three defenders are reportedly out of the squad.
‘Shocked’ Harry Maguire left out of England’s World Cup squad
08:19 , Alex Pattle
Harry Maguire has been left out of England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel has begun informing certain players of their places – or lack thereof – ahead of an official squad announcement on Friday morning, and Maguire was the first major omission to be confirmed, with the news coming on Thursday evening.
‘Shocked’ Harry Maguire left out of England’s World Cup squad
Djed Spence set to be included in squad
08:15 , Mike Jones
Sky Sports News are reporting this morning that Tottenham defender Djed Spence has been included in the squad for the World Cup.
Spence has a broken jaw and will need to be assessed before he can travel to the tournament.
Maguire announces omission on social media
08:12 , Mike Jones
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Maguire confirmed his omission from Tuchel’s squad and revealed he was ‘shocked’ and ‘gutted’ at the decision.
“I was confident I could of played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” he wrote.
“I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years.
“I wish the players, all the best this summer.”
England World Cup squad rumours
08:06 , Mike Jones
Good morning, let’s recap the night before and all the leaks, rumours and confirmations about the England squad.
The first bit of big news came from TalkSport and a claim that Harry Maguire had missed out on a place in the squad.
Maguire has performed strongly for Manchester United in the last few months of the season but that was not enough to force his way ahead of the ‘five players’ above him in the pecking order according to previous comments from Thomas Tuchel.
What next for England after the squad announcement?
08:00 , Mike Jones
Once the squad is named, Thomas Tuchel and his Three Lions will travel to Florida in early June to complete a pre-World Cup training camp, including two friendly internationals against New Zealand (9pm BST, Saturday 6 June) and Costa Rica (9pm BST, Wednesday 10 June).
How can I follow the announcement?
07:52 , Mike Jones
The Independent will bring you a live stream of the event, while the official England app will also bring live coverage of the major announcement.
Former England internationals Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott will be part of the broadcast, which will be hosted by presenter Kyle Walker.
When will England’s World Cup 2026 squad be announced?
07:44 , Mike Jones
England’s squad for the 2026 Fifa World Cup will be revealed on Friday 22 May from Wembley Stadium, London.
The announcement event will begin at 9.45am BST, with all 26 names set to follow soon after.
England manager is ‘the impossible job’ – but is it the dream role for a German?
07:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just how hard is it being England manager? It was a topic discussed at length on a recent edition of our Copa Independent podcast as Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Kieran Jackson tried to answer that very question. You can find that episode, and all the others, wherever you get your podcasts, or here:
England manager is ‘the impossible job’ – but is it the dream role for a German?
Harry Kane explains why his England team is ready to win the World Cup
07:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Is this England’s year? Probably not, but Harry Kane is full of belief.
Harry Kane explains why his England team is ready to win the World Cup
England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s almost there and which big names will miss out?
07:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There are so many close calls for Thomas Tuchel to consider in virtually every area of the pitch – Lawrence Ostlere has had a go at figuring out where the England manager might land and picked a possible 26-man squad.
England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane and who will be cut?
When will the England squad be named?
07:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We’re expecting the England squad to be named about 10am BST this morning, with the FA-produced livestream due to begin at 9.45am BST. Miguel Delaney and Lawrence Ostlere will be at Wembley a little after that to listen to Thomas Tuchel speak – and have their ears to the ground in the meantime with a few bold calls perhaps on the way....
England World Cup squad announcement LIVE
06:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Decision day has arrived for Thomas Tuchel with the England manager set to name his squad for the World Cup this morning at Wembley. Who will make it? Who will miss out? We’ll have all of the latest news, reaction and analysis as the 26-man party is named.
Declan Rice opens up on ‘biggest challenge’ England must overcome at World Cup
Friday 22 May 2026 00:00 , Mike Jones
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has candidly admitted he is prepared to be "hated one minute and loved the next" as England embark on their quest to secure a first World Cup trophy in 60 years.
Rice, who is on the cusp of a remarkable Premier League and Champions League double with Arsenal, is expected to play a pivotal role for the national team this summer.
Declan Rice opens up on ‘biggest challenge’ England must overcome at World Cup
Who has made the England squad?
Thursday 21 May 2026 23:50 , Mike Jones
With some big name omission already stated who is rumoured to have made the squad?
On the plane
Ivan Toney: The 30-year-old Al Ahli striker has not played for England for a year, but his 41 goals for the Saudi club appear to have convinced Tuchel he is right to join the World Cup squad. Is his inclusion the biggest shock of all?
Who has made the England squad?
Thursday 21 May 2026 23:40 , Mike Jones
With some big name omission already stated who is rumoured to have made the squad?
On the plane
Jordan Henderson: Henderson has been a regular inclusion by Tuchel during qualifying and it is very possible he will be in the squad as the back-up to Anderson in the No 6 role.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
