Liam Duckstein
England‘s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be officially announced on Friday, but leaks have already confirmed several high-profile departures from Thomas Tuchel‘s plans. The omissions span multiple positions and clubs, signalling that Tuchel is not making sentiment-based selections.
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While Egypt has confirmed Mohamed Salah in their squad, no England player could afford to assume automatic inclusion. Tuchel has spent recent days making the decisive phone calls to finalise his selections, with the full announcement due Friday morning followed by a press conference addressing his choices.
Three players central to England’s recent tournament runs have been cut. Manchester City‘s Phil Foden has paid the price for a difficult domestic season, with his inconsistent performances in an England shirt cited as a compounding factor in Tuchel’s decision.
Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer, who scored in England’s 2-1 EURO 2024 final defeat to Spain, is also absent. An injury-affected campaign has limited his availability, though his quality was never in question.
Manchester United‘s Harry Maguire is among the more surprising exclusions. The centre-back had earned a recall to the squad in March after an absence since September 2024, and responded to news of his omission on social media.
“I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. 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.” — Harry Maguire
Luke Shaw, who scored in the EURO 2020 final loss to Italy, is also out of Tuchel’s plans. Newcastle United‘s Lewis Hall is similarly absent, making the left-back position a notable area of upheaval in the squad construction.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Adam Wharton, and Jarrod Bowen are also expected to miss out, though their situations remain fluid ahead of the official announcement.
Players Reportedly Cut From England’s World Cup Squad
- Harry Maguire
- Cole Palmer
- Phil Foden
- Levi Colwill
- Luke Shaw
- Trevoh Chalobah
- Fikayo Tomori
- Adam Wharton
- Morgan Gibbs-White
The full picture becomes clear on Friday when Tuchel confirms his 26-man squad. Follow TipsGG for squad analysis, betting tips, and full 2026 FIFA World Cup coverage as it unfolds.
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