Tuchel names England’s World Cup squad after big omissions

26 players will go to the US next month after Thomas Tuchel confirmed England’s World Cup squad on Friday morning.

The list contains several contentious calls, with Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Lewis Hall, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton all left out. Tuchel, who is set for his first international tournament, has already signed a two-year contract extension that runs until Euro 2028.

His selections also brought recalls for Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Jordan Henderson, Noni Madueke, Djed Spence and Ivan Toney. England will travel to the US next month for the tournament in North America, after a number of contentious decisions emerged on Thursday evening.

Goalkeepers are Jordan Pickford of Everton, Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace and James Trafford of Manchester City. Tuchel’s goalkeeper choice is the only position without jeopardy.

Defenders named are Reece James, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Nico O'Reilly, Dan Burn and Djed Spence. The midfield group is Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers and Kobbie Mainoo.

England’s forwards are Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze. The Three Lions will face New Zealand and Costa Rica in warm-up matches after arriving in the USA next month.

England begin their group stage against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, before meeting Ghana and Panama on June 23 and 27, respectively. Henderson will turn 36 on the day England start that campaign against Croatia.

Harry Maguire said in a statement: "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 wish the players all the best."

Tuchel had said in March that Maguire was effectively the sixth choice centre-back behind Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and John Stones. Alexander-Arnold has now been overlooked for the fourth squad in succession after a stuttering season at Real Madrid.

Spence was selected despite having started just 22 league matches in a disastrous Spurs season, while Hall was not included. Henderson was picked over Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who had not last started for Brentford since March.

Gibbs-White, who had a 17-goal season for Nottingham Forest, was another divisive exclusion, with Eberechi Eze preferred despite an inconsistent season in the Gunners title-winning team. Toney, who has been out of the international scene for the past year, has scored 32 goals in 32 matches for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.