Thomas Tuchel offers Trent Alexander-Arnold World Cup hope after England snub: “He has to accept it”

“I’ve gone with other players.” That’s how Thomas Tuchel explained his decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold off England’s roster for the March international window, a call that quickly became the biggest surprise on a 35-man list.

All signs had pointed to the Real Madrid right-back returning to the Three Lions setup for the first time in nine months, especially after his strong recent run of form in Spain. Instead, Tuchel opted for Tino Livramento and Djed Spence.

No late reprieve despite changes

Even when injuries forced adjustments, Alexander-Arnold’s name never came up.

After Jarell Quansah dropped out, Tuchel brought in Ben White, Arsenal’s backup right back. The England boss later admitted the decision to leave out Alexander-Arnold was “difficult and maybe hard, and perhaps, to a certain degree, unfair.”

“He just has to accept it”

Speaking ahead of England’s friendly against Uruguay, Tuchel addressed what has become one of the biggest talking points around the national team.

“I know it creates noise to leave out a player like Trent,” he said. “We had a call and I tried to explain the situation. He just has to accept it. It’s just a choice, a sporting choice, but these choices have to be made.”

Tuchel also made it clear that White deserved another chance, while emphasizing continuity with players who impressed during previous international windows.

“I think I know what Trent can give us,” Tuchel said. “This choice was about Ben White and Tino Livramento, and stick with the guys who had good camps with us in September, November and December. They also need minutes. There are many good players in this position, including Djed Spence, who is competing for a spot.”

World Cup hopes still alive

Despite the high-profile omission, Tuchel insists Alexander-Arnold remains firmly in the picture for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“No, that’s not the case,” Tuchel said when asked if the Real Madrid star was out of contention. “We’re playing with a slightly different structure right now that doesn’t suit his strengths. That’s not his fault at all. And there’s still a lot of football to be played.”

He pointed specifically to Real Madrid’s upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich as a key moment.

“We’ll analyze the data and watch his games. Those matches are crucial for both him and me. He’s not out of the race.”

Still in contention, but behind others

Alexander-Arnold hasn’t featured for England since June 2025, when he appeared in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Even so, Tuchel says the door is still open.

“He’s on the preliminary list and everyone is still in contention,” he said. “But right now, there are other players slightly ahead.”

Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and hinted that Alexander-Arnold may have deserved another opportunity.

“He was with us in June. Maybe he deserved a second chance. It’s a very tough decision, and I’m aware of that, but he has accepted it well.”

Final evaluation to come

Tuchel plans to make a final assessment in person before naming his World Cup squad.

“I’ll watch some Real Madrid matches and maybe attend a Champions League game live to form a final impression,” he said.

Alexander-Arnold, who has 34 caps for England, could miss out on a major international tournament for the first time since Euro 2020, when he was forced out through injury.

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