England’s 2026 World Cup squad confirmed: These are the shock call-ups and major absences
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has named his final, 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney is a surprise inclusion in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, which was announced on Friday.
Toney is on Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man roster despite earning the last of his seven England caps 11 months ago, as an 88th-minute substitute in a friendly defeat to Senegal. Toney has made no other appearances for the Three Lions since Tuchel took over in January 2025.
However, the former Brentford forward - who has one international goal - has been in fine scoring form for Al-Ahli. The 30-year-old has netted 32 times in 32 Saudi Pro League games this season.
Major names miss out
Meanwhile, there was no place for Manchester City’s Phil Foden or Chelsea’s Cole Palmer - and Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has made just one England squad under Tuchel.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, capped 66 times, is also among the players overlooked. Maguire went public about his omission on Thursday, describing himself as “shocked and gutted” in a social media post. The center back’s mother, Zoe, added on X that she is “absolutely disgusted” by her son’s absence from the squad.
Spence and Stones in
While Tuchel again left out Alexander-Arnold, one fullback who is on the plane is Djed Spence, despite sustaining a broken jaw on Tuesday - and not always being a sure-fire pick for a relegation-threatened Spurs. Spence has four caps, having been handed his debut by Tuchel in September’s World Cup qualifying win over Serbia.
The selection of Spence’s fellow defender, John Stones, is also noteworthy. The veteran, who has 87 England caps, is included despite making just eight Premier League appearances in an injury-hit 2025/26.
Drawn in World Cup Group L, England kick off their campaign against Croatia on June 17. Tuchel’s men will also face Ghana and Panama in the group stage.
Before this summer’s tournament in North America, England face final World Cup tuneups against New Zealand on June 6, and against Costa Rica on June 10.
England’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah Bayer Leverkusen, Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Djed Spence (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
Notable absences from England’s 2026 World Cup squad:
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid)
- Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Lewis Hall (Newcastle United)
- James Garner (Everton)
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
- Miles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
- Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
- Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
- Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
What Tuchel said about his England World Cup squad:
“We are trying to select and built the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players,” Tuchel told a press conference on Friday. “Teams win championships, it’s as simple as that […]. With that in mind, we chose a very balanced squad.”
Asked about his shock decision to select Toney, the German said: “I have always had fantastic feedback about his role there [at Al-Ahli]. We could see that he still collects the numbers. I think he has very special skills that could help us, meaning the scenario when we are chasing a result, when we are chasing a goal.
“I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane. I think he can be a presence in the box when we are pushing for a goal. He can take attention off other strikers. He has a natural presence in the box - he’s a natural finisher. He can help us with set pieces; he’s very strong in the air. And, not to forget, he’s a world-class penalty taker.”
England’s Group L schedule in full:
- June 17, 4:00 p.m. ET: England vs Croatia, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- June 23, 12 noon ET: England vs Ghana, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- June 27, 5:00 p.m. ET: Panama vs England, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.