- Tuchel names England final squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire and Phil Foden among big names missing.
- England will start World Cup campaign against Croatia.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has officially named his final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he prepares to lead the Three Lions into his first major tournament at the helm.
The announcement, made on Friday morning at St. George’s Park, features a formidable blend of veteran leadership and explosive young talent.
Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane will captain the side, while Premier League winner Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham have been included in midfield.
Before crossing the Atlantic, the Three Lions will finalize their local preparations with pre-tournament training games, including a highly anticipated warm-up fixture against Costa Rica.
From there, Tuchel’s squad will fly out to Florida for a warm-weather training camp on Monday week, aiming to fully acclimatize to the intense conditions before heading to their tournament base.
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Ivan Toney returns after strong Saudi League campaign
The biggest headline from the selection is the inclusion of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney.
The forward, who has made only one appearance for England since 2024 while playing in the Saudi Pro League, was heavily rewarded by Tuchel for his clinical domestic form, punching his ticket to back up Kane alongside Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
In midfield, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson earned an inclusion alongside Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with both players heavily bankrolled by Tuchel after fine domestic seasons.
Why Maguire, Palmer, Arnold and Foden have been left out of England 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad?
However, the squad is not without its monumental shocks. Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are the most high-profile omissions.
Following underwhelming club campaigns, the elite creative trio paid the ultimate price and were left out of the trip entirely.
Tuchel addressed the massive talking point directly during his press conference, acknowledging the harsh nature of the snubs.
“There were difficult phone calls,” Tuchel admitted regarding his conversations with Foden, Palmer, and Gibbs-White. “For some of them, it’s just a positional thing to have a balanced squad so we don’t bring FIVE number tens. Even if it was painful, I think it was the right call for England.”
They are joined on the snub list by vice-captain Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Tottenham full-back Djed Spence secured the final 26th spot on the plane due to his tactical versatility on both flanks, despite reports that he suffered a broken jaw in a midweek collision with Chelsea’s Liam Delap.
Tuchel, who is aimed at navigating England one step further than their previous European Championship heartbreaks, will be looking to secure a second historical World Cup title for the nation.
England has been drawn into Group E and will open their campaign against Croatia on June 17, followed by group stage fixtures against Ghana and Panama.
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England final squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
Defenders: Reece James, Tino Livramento, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence.
Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers.
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney.