England’s World Cup 2026 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s almost there and which big names will miss out?

Thomas Tuchel names his England squad for the 2026 World Cup on Friday morning, and we already know some big names will miss out – including Phil Foden and Harry Magiure.

Late on Thursday, Maguire revealed that he has not been named in Tuchel’s final 26. The Manchester United defender, back in the squad in March after a strong run of form, said he is “shocked and gutted” by the decision. And TalkSport revealed Foden will also be left behind after a difficult season at Manchester City.

England dominated Group K in Uefa qualifying to book their place at next summer’s World Cup, winning all eight games without conceding a goal. But they disappointed in March’s international friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, and now the manager has to finalise his squad to take to USA, Canada and Mexico in June.

Tuchel has made clear that he wants to build a squad with clearly defined roles, and two players for every position on the pitch, plus a third goalkeeper and three versatile outfield players to round out the 26. He sees his midfield comprising a No 6, a No 8 and No 10, and wants each player to know their specific role in the side.

But despite Tuchel’s attempts to create clarity, there remain major questions over the full-back positions, the composition of midfield and the plethora of wingers and No 10s to whittle down – with some big names likely to miss out.

So who will Tuchel select in his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup? While you can find everything you need to know about the announcement here.

Left out

Harry Maguire: A stalwart of England’s last two World Cup campaigns, the Manchester United defender has been left out of Tuchel’s final squad. The 33-year-old is “shocked and gutted” by the decision, which comes as something of a surprise, given his strong club form and his call-up to the squad in March. Maguire also missed out on a spot at the last tournament, Euro 2024, in which England reached the final.

In a statement on social media, Maguire said: “I was confident I could of 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.”

Phil Foden: Foden is a supremely talented player but he will not be travelling to North America, reports TalkSport, after a difficult season. The City midfielder has barely featured for England under Tuchel, and lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s team. He struggled playing as a false nine against Japan in the March internationals, in what was his final shot at securing a spot on the plane.

On the plane

Jordan Pickford: The Everton keeper was Gareth Southgate’s No 1 and has maintained top spot under Thomas Tuchel, with an impressive season for his club.

Dean Henderson: The Crystal Palace goalkeeper is set to be Pickford’s back-up.

Nico O’Reilly: The Manchester City left-back was excellent in November’s World Cup qualifiers after impressing under Pep Guardiola this season, and his two-goal show in the Carabao Cup final only further secured his place in the England squad.

John Stones: The Manchester City defender has endured a difficult season with injury but, if he is fit, the experienced centre-back will play a role at the World Cup.

Marc Guehi: Stones’ fellow City centre-back is perhaps the most certain defender to start England’s first World Cup game.

Ezri Konsa: The Aston Villa centre-back has cemented his place as one of Tuchel’s most reliable options, having played more minutes under the German manager than any other defender.

Elliot Anderson: Tuchel has made clear that Anderson is the leading candidate to play in the holding role position, and his performances for Nottingham Forest and England have been outstanding. Anderson’s defensive instincts will help free up Declan Rice in midfield.

Declan Rice: Part of Tuchel’s leadership group and essential to any success at the World Cup in England’s box-to-box No 8 position.

Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid man has won back his place in the England squad, although there remains tension with the manager. Yet England need their best players firing to have any chance of winning the World Cup, and Bellingham is undoubtedly one of them.

Morgan Rogers: Tuchel turned to Rogers in Bellingham’s absence during qualifying, and the Villa midfielder looks poised to earn a place in the squad as an option at No 10.

Bukayo Saka: The 24-year-old winger has been under a little bit of pressure to refind his very best form for Arsenal, but he will certainly be in the squad and is the most likely starter on England’s right wing this summer.

Anthony Gordon: The Newcastle winger is contention to start on the left wing, and has regularly featured there for Tuchel so far. He has racked up more than 20 goal contributions this season, making him one of the few England forwards in form.

Marcus Rashford: Goals and assists for Barcelona have pushed Rashford’s cause and Tuchel likes him, although the manager has also had cautionary words about wasting his talent. Rashford’s versatility, able to cover both wing and striker should Kane need it, helps his selection cause.

Harry Kane: It is easy to forget that plenty of pundits and fans wanted Kane dropped for the Euro 2024 final. He has been phenomenal ever since, surpassing 50 goals this campaign, and the big question now is whether England’s captain can translate his sensational club form at Bayern Munich into dominating an international tournament.

In contention

Aaron Ramsdale: Looked to have regained his place as England’s third-choice goalkeeper, but will Tuchel prefer to give James Trafford the experience of a major tournament?

James Trafford: Included in England’s March squad, but the goalkeeper’s lack of game time for Manchester City this season is the reason why he may miss out.

Reece James: Tuchel adores the Chelsea captain and there is no doubt James will be at the World Cup if he is fit, most likely as the starting right-back. But his fitness in itself is such an uncertainty – he has only recently recovered from a hamstring injury – that he doesn’t make our on-the-plane list, yet.

Tino Livramento: The Newcastle full-back is liked by Tuchel and his ability to play both sides adds to his appeal – but a thigh injury makes him a doubt to make the tournament.

Dan Burn: Burn is a popular squad player who adds something different with his towering physical presence. He is currently battling to be Tuchel’s fourth choice at centre-back behind Stones, Guehi and Konsa, but faces competition from Harry Maguire.

Djed Spence: Much like Livramento, Tuchel likes that Spence has experience playing both full-back roles for his club, Tottenham. But it may be that only one of the two full-backs goes to the World Cup, and Livramento has had the edge when both are fit.

Jarell Quansah: The Leverkusen defender made his long-awaited debut in November’s World Cup qualifiers and could take one of the fringe spots in the squad.

Lewis Hall: The defender has been excellent for Newcastle this season and has a chance of making the World Cup squad after his involvement in recent internationals.

Myles Lewis-Skelly: Tuchel loves the Arsenal youngster, but he has barely featured at left-back for the Gunners this season, with Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie both preferred by Mikel Arteta – which cost him his place in November’s squad. Yet a recent, impressive run in central midfield could give Lewis-Skelly a route into England’s plans.

James Garner: One of the few players to come away with any credit from England’s dismal March internationals, and could snatch one of the fringe places in the squad as back-up midfielder.

Kobbie Mainoo: Back in the squad after strong performances for a rejuvenated Manchester United under Michael Carrick, but looked a little sluggish defensively in the March friendly against Japan.

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.

Adam Wharton: The Crystal Palace midfielder was something of a surprise inclusion by Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024 but has since established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, with the ability to play as a deep-lying playmaker as well as in a box-to-box role. He played in November’s match against Albania as the No 6.

Eberechi Eze: Tuchel has spoken in glowing terms about Eze as a player who offers something different, creatively, from Bellingham and Rogers. His ability to play wide and as a No 10 would be a useful asset in the squad, although he still faces huge competition for a spot.

Morgan Gibbs-White: Gibbs-White was initially given minutes by Tuchel before being edged out by the sheer number of options in central roles. But his sensational late-season form for Forest has seen him climb back up the pecking order.

Cole Palmer: It seems incredible not to list Palmer on the plane, but the sheer intensity of competition for attacking spots makes his position uncertain, and his poor performance against Japan only increased the doubt over his place. Bellingham, Rogers and Eze can all play in that role, while Saka and Madueke appear likely to be first-choice options on the right flank. Palmer will probably be at the World Cup, but Tuchel has made no guarantees.

Noni Madueke: Madueke is Saka’s deputy at Arsenal and should fill the same role for England, having performed well in September’s thrashing of Serbia, the highlight of Tuchel’s reign so far.

Jarrod Bowen: The West Ham captain seems to be third choice on the right wing behind Saka and Madueke, but his league form has been good and he has a chance of squeezing onto the plane. Bowen’s ability to play as No 9 could also play in his favour, if Tuchel decides not to take a back-up striker.

Dominic Solanke: The Tottenham striker has struggled for fitness this season, and is injured again, but was given gametime in the March friendlies. Could he be England’s back-up No 9?

Ollie Watkins: A sluggish start to the Premier League season saw Watkins left out of the squad for November’s internationals. But a late surge in form for Aston Villa has lifted him back into contention for a spot on the plane.

Outside bets

Trevoh Chalobah: A badly timed injury playing in the Champions League for Chelsea may have scuppered Chalobah’s hopes of making the World Cup, although he is back to fitness now.

Levi Colwill: The 23-year-old appears to have put his injury troubles behind him, and is known to be highly rated by the England hierarchy.

Ben White: Back in the fold for the first time since leaving the World Cup in Qatar, Tuchel was considering White as a right-back option. But a medial ligament injury sustained against West Ham earlier this month is likely to have ended his hopes.

Fikayo Tomori: The AC Milan defender was back in the squad for March, but faces stiff competition for a centre-back place.

Luke Shaw: Didn’t make the March squad, with Hall and O’Reilly preferred as left-back options.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Tuchel has been frank about his preference for James and Livramento in the pecking order at right-back, hinting at concerns about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive concentration. Time seems to have run out for the Real Madrid defender to win back his place.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: An impressive goalscoring campaign for Leeds has seen Calvert-Lewin push himself into the reckoning. But he was sent home from the March camp while Solanke was retained, hinting at his true place in the pecking order.

Predicted England squad for 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Pickford, D Henderson, Trafford.

Defenders: James, Livramento, Stones, Guehi, Konsa, Burn, Quansah, Lewis-Skelly, O’Reilly.

Midfielders: Anderson, J Henderson, Wharton, Rice, Mainoo.

Forwards: Saka, Madueke, Palmer, Bellingham, Rogers, Gordon, Rashford.

Strikers: Kane, Watkins.