appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Agence France-Presse

Associated Press

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were among a number of high-profile players left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad announced on Friday.
Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was also omitted, with Saudi-based Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney the surprise inclusion.
Tuchel, a Champions League winner during his time at Chelsea, was hired to end England’s 60-year wait to win a major international tournament, and the German former Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich boss has made a series of bold calls that will be harshly judged if the Three Lions fall short of glory in the coming weeks.
Palmer and Foden played a major role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.
However, Chelsea playmaker Palmer and Manchester City’s Foden have paid the price for poor seasons with their clubs.

England’s top players – Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice – were all included.
Arsenal’s Premier League title winners Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke will be going to their first World Cup and Marcus Rashford – dropped from Euro 2024 – is going to another major international tournament after rebuilding his career at Barcelona this season.
Tuchel said telling players they would not be on the plane to the United States had been tough.
“It was difficult, sometimes painfully difficult and like even in the phone calls I felt the emotion,” he said.
“So I called all players that were with us in camp at least one time, I called them, I wanted to show at least the appreciation and the respect for what they have done.”
Tuchel said he could not wait to be on the plane and “be a coach”.
“Now I’m feeling in between relieved and excited and ready to go because once you get the energy back and once you see the excitement of the players that you chose and then once the decisions are made it gives you a certain edge, it gives clarity,” he said.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also been overlooked despite being two of the highest-scoring Englishmen in the Premier League this season.
Veteran Brentford midfielder and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been included at the expense of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said on Thursday he was shocked at his exclusion.
“I was confident I could [have] played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” the 33-year-old posted on social media.
“I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.”

Maguire’s United teammate Luke Shaw was also overlooked.
Tuchel has taken a risk on centre-back John Stones despite his lack of involvement at Manchester City during an injury-hit season.
Toney made an impact off the bench at the Euros two years ago, but has played only two minutes of international football since after moving to Saudi Arabia in 2024.
England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, before playing Ghana on June 23 and Panama four days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento, Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly (all Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)


Mexico’s president sees ‘no issue’ with her country hosting Iran’s Fifa World Cup team

Son Heung-min says he is still in form as clouds hang over South Korea’s World Cup hopes

Coach of North Korean women’s side thanks Kim Jong-un’s ‘warm love’ after Asian title win

China youth team finish runners-up in AFC U17 Asian Cup after narrow defeat to Japan

Fifa

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden left out of England World Cup squad, Ivan Toney the surprise pick

Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea's Cole Palmer have paid the price for poor seasons with their clubs. Photo: AFP

Thomas Tuchel said telling the players left out was “sometimes painfully difficult”. Photo: AP

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire said he was shocked by his exclusion. Photo: Reuters

World Cup winner Marco Materazzi to attend grand opening of Fifa Museum in Hong Kong

Marco Materazzi won the World Cup in 2006 and scored one of his two international goals in the final. Photo: Getty Images

Marco Materazzi (right) was famously headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. Photo: AFP

Paul Merson tells Arsenal to ‘be like McDonald’s’, fears Aston Villa have reached limit

Kai Havertz (right) celebrates scoring the only goal in Arsenal’s crucial victory over Burnley on Monday. Photo: AFP

Paul Merson (right) in Ocean Park’s panda enclosure with Scott Semple, chairman of the HKFC Soccer Sevens Organising Committee. Photo: Hong Kong Football Club

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (middle) leads a training session before next week’s Champions League final. Photo: AFP

Captains of the teams for this weekend’s HKFC Soccer Sevens gather at Ocean Park. Photo: Hong Kong Football Club

Sport

Football

Exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among coach Thomas Tuchel’s other surprises but most of his regular stars are selected


Exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among coach Thomas Tuchel’s other surprises but most of his regular stars are selected.


Fifa World Cup 2026

Ivan Toney

Adam Walton

Noni Madueke

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden left out of England World Cup squad, Ivan Toney the surprise pick

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among coach Thomas Tuchel’s other surprises but most of his regular stars are selected

Exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among coach Thomas Tuchel’s other surprises but most of his regular stars are selected