Foden, Palmer, Alexander-Arnold Excluded from England World Cup Squad

Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not been included in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup.

Key Omissions and Inclusions

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has also been left out, with the 33-year-old stating he is “shocked and gutted” by the decision. Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, fresh from helping his side win the Europa League, is included, alongside Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who boasts an impressive 32 goals in 32 games in the Saudi Arabian league this season.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has missed out, despite being the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season with 14 goals, a tally matched by Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Manchester City’s Foden and Chelsea’s Palmer, both versatile attacking midfielders, have experienced inconsistent seasons.

In a post on Instagram, Maguire confirmed his disappointment: “I was confident I could have 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 wish the players all the best.” His mother, Zoe, also expressed her dismay on social media, saying she was “disgusted” by the decision.

Maguire’s Manchester United team-mate Luke Shaw has also been omitted despite an impressive season, with Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly being called up instead. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori are out, though Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has made the cut. He joins Premier League-winning team-mates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze, the latter rewarded for his excellent form.

Tottenham defender Djed Spence has also made Tuchel’s squad, meaning no place for Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, or Everton’s James Garner. Spence, 25, suffered a broken jaw but is expected to wear a protective mask if he plays.

The omissions of Maguire, Tomori, and Colwill mean Manchester City defender John Stones has been included, despite an injury-disrupted campaign. Tuchel views Stones as a key player but has been concerned about his fitness. Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton also misses out, but Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo retains his place after a recall for previous friendlies. Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, a mainstay under Tuchel, also keeps his spot.

Tournament Schedule and Player Statistics

The World Cup, hosted across the US, Mexico, and Canada, commences on 11 June. Foden has played 49 times for England but started only 22 Premier League games for City this season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists across 32 top-flight appearances. Palmer has scored nine goals in 25 Premier League games during an injury-hit campaign for Chelsea.

England will warm up with friendlies against New Zealand on 6 June and Costa Rica on 10 June. Their World Cup campaign begins against Croatia on 17 June, followed by group games against Ghana and Panama.

Expert Analysis: Tuchel’s Selections

Former England defender Phil Jagielka commented on the squad, stating: “It’s not been a great season for either Phil Foden or Cole Palmer. And in that attacking area, we’ve got a pool of players who have outperformed them at club level. Usually for England you get to keep your place on your name, but Thomas Tuchel wants to pick on form and chemistry, so I’m not surprised.”

Regarding Ivan Toney, Jagielka noted: “Maybe his schedule hasn’t been as hectic. If the manager thinks he needs to give Harry Kane a rest or we need a penalty specialist, there are loads of situations where he could come into the mix. It’s going to be a very hot tournament, so he wants to bring a pretty fresh Ivan Toney. Obviously, he’s a penalty specialist.” He added that Tuchel has “stuck to his guns” regarding Maguire’s omission.

England World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona on loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)