Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer have been left out of England’s World Cup squad.
Ivan Toney, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have been included as understudies to captain Harry Kane, while Morgan Rogers, also of Villa, has made the cut.
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento, Arsenal winger Noni Madueke and City’s John Stones are also among the players to have been selected for this summer’s tournament by head coach Thomas Tuchel, who will name his final 26-man squad on Friday.
Mainoo’s United team-mate Luke Shaw has also missed out, along with Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ezri Konsa, the Aston Villa defender, is expected to be included.
Manchester United centre-half Harry Maguire has already revealed he has not made the cut, writing on social media: “I was confident I could of 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’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years.
“I wish the players all the best this summer”.
Members of Maguire’s family have since questioned the decision on social media, with his brother Joe writing on X: “This might possibly be the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life. No words”. Maguire’s mum Zoe wrote on X: “Absolutely disgusted.”
Morgan Gibbs-White, the Nottingham Forest playmaker, and Everton’s James Garner are not expected to be included.
England begin the tournament against Croatia on June 17 before facing Ghana on June 23 and rounding off Group L against Panama three days later.
Tuchel’s squad will travel to the U.S. on June 1 and face New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica four days later in warm-up games during their preparation camp in Florida.
Additional reporting by Liam Twomey, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Paul Taylor and Patrick Boyland
Foden omission ‘no great surprise’
Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
It is no great surprise that Foden has not made the squad and even his biggest supporters would surely have to admit that he has not done enough to deserve a call-up this season, given his poor form and lack of game time for City this calendar year. The fact that Tuchel has been ruthless with Palmer shows there is some consistency to his decisions, too.
The unfortunate thing for Foden is that he had started to look bright in the last couple of games but that was not going to be enough to change Tuchel’s mind. The manager did give Foden a fair crack of the whip during the most recent international break but he could not take his chance, and so it would have felt generous to take him.
‘Palmer can have no complaints’
By Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey
When he came off the bench to score for England in the final of Euro 2024 two years ago, it seemed inconceivable that Cole Palmer would not even make this World Cup squad.
The sad reality is that on form, he can have no complaints. Palmer has scored just five non-penalty goals and contributed only three assists across all competitions since lighting up the FIFA Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
A lingering groin injury has taken its toll, as has the instability at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps a summer of rest will be the best thing for him – and for incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.
‘Toney’s inclusion a huge shock’
By Tottenham correspondent Jay Harris
Toney’s inclusion is a huge shock because he has not played for England under Tuchel since a brief cameo in last year’s defeat to Senegal in June 2025. The 30-year-old has gone under the radar slightly since he left Brentford in August 2024 but has been in exceptional form for Al Ahli. He has scored 32 goals in as many appearances in the Saudi Pro League this season.
Toney demonstrated his value at the Euros in 2024 with an assist for Harry Kane’s extra-time winner in the last-16 tie against Slovakia and a composed penalty in the shootout victory over Switzerland. He might not play a lot but he is a wildcard Tuchel can pull in emergency circumstances.
‘Mainoo’s remarkable turnaround’
By Manchester United correspondent Mark Critchley
Mainoo’s prospects of a spot on the plane appeared remote at the turn of the year, to put it mildly. At that point, he was struggling for a spot in United’s midfield, still waiting for his first Premier League game this season.
Michael Carrick’s appointment changed all of that. Mainoo has been a regular ever since, bringing the composure and ability to play under pressure that United were previously missing. Many would say England have lacked those qualities over the years too, at least until Mainoo’s breakthrough as a starter at Euro 2024.
They are qualities Tuchel admires and, despite competition in that department from Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Mainoo’s call-up is a deserved reward for his remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
‘Too little too late for Colwill’
By Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson
It is just a case of too little too late for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
The 23-year-old worked wonders to make the provisional 55-man squad at all, given he missed most of the season with a serious knee injury.
Tuchel was at Wembley to see Colwill shine in Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, which was only his second start of the campaign.
Yet it is understandable why Tuchel felt he could not take the risk, given the lack of minutes the centre-back has had.
Unlike some others who have been left out, Colwill can be reassured knowing that this is injury-related and not a pure football decision.
Colwill will actually benefit from having a summer off and being ready to join in from the very start of pre-season training under new Chelsea manager Alonso. With the character he is, Colwill will use this as motivation to make sure he gets back in the squad for the European Championships qualifying campaign.
‘Shaw worthy of greater consideration’
By Mark Critchley
Sunday could see Shaw complete a full set of 38 starts in a Premier League season, a remarkable achievement for a player with his chequered injury history, having made just seven league appearances last term.
The 30-year-old has not only been consistently available but consistent full stop. He is no longer an especially adventurous full-back, but is still a dependable one, and capable of playing on the left of a back three, too.
Given his last cap was the Euro 2024 final, his omission is no surprise, but his steady displays and tournament experience made him worthy of greater consideration.
‘Maguire’s omission will cut deep’
By Mark Critchley
When Maguire sat down with a group of reporters at United’s training camp in Kildare last month, he admitted to being “desperate” to go to what he expected would be his last World Cup.
Describing himself as “one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes”, he felt he still had plenty to offer at international level. He was happy with “whatever role the manager would want”, whether that be starting or as a substitute.
A place in the squad for the March internationals against Uruguay and Japan was deserved, but a seat on the plane was still far from guaranteed, given Tuchel’s options at centre-half.
His omission will nevertheless cut deep. Maguire is an England fan who travelled to Euro 2016 with friends and family before earning his first call-up a year later.
One of the key figures of the Gareth Southgate era, the 33-year-old will surely still be watching England’s progress, albeit while wondering if he will get the chance to represent his country at a major international tournament again.
‘Gibbs-White omission follows a pattern’
By Daniel Taylor
On the one hand, the news of Morgan Gibbs-White’s expected omission might come as a surprise, bearing in mind his consistently high form for Nottingham Forest since Vitor Pereira replaced Sean Dyche as the club’s manager in February.
On the other hand, it follows a pattern that strongly indicates Thomas Tuchel has never been entirely convinced about Gibbs-White’s ability to flourish at the highest level.
The player’s six caps under Tuchel have all come as a substitute, totalling 88 minutes of action, and he wasn’t in the squad for England’s friendlies against Japan and Uruguay in March.
Since then, Gibbs-White has been in blistering form for Forest, scoring several important goals as they moved clear of relegation danger. Yet the biggest clue, perhaps, came after Gibbs-White suffered a badly gashed head in a collision with Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, early this month.
Nobody from the Football Association — let alone Tuchel himself — got in touch with Forest to find out how he was, and how long he would miss. And that, it seems, is because Tuchel had already decided to press on without him.
Calvert-Lewin misses out, despite impressive season
By Leeds United correspondent Beren Cross
How do 14 Premier League goals compare with 32 in the Saudi Pro League? Thomas Tuchel has given his answer with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s omission from his World Cup squad.
Ivan Toney, it seems, has taken the slot Calvert-Lewin would have hoped to fill for England this summer. They are both experienced and have the physical attributes to be a target man for Tuchel, but their goal tallies in 2025-26 have been wildly different.
Calvert-Lewin was delighted to be recalled by Tuchel for the March camp after an impressive season with Leeds United. He has finished the campaign strongly with five goals in eight outings in all competitions, too.
In the rare event England need an alternative to Kane, either due to injury or late in a knockout game, Calvert-Lewin offered something demonstrably different and an aerial target if they had to go direct in a game they were chasing. As Tuchel may explain tomorrow, he’s preferred Toney in that role.
‘Watkins return deserved’
By Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell
Ollie Watkins’ return to the England fold, having been omitted from the previous international camp, is extremely deserved.
The 30-year-old has appeared to be a striker transformed and admitted that Tuchel’s decision to drop him was the extra motivation he needed.
Watkins has scored more goals than anyone else in the Premier League since December (12), having only scored two before that. Watkins showed in Euro 2024 that he is a different, extremely capable back-up to Harry Kane and now back to his best, has rediscovered the sharpness and mobility that are key parts of his game.
‘Rogers a cert’
By Jacob Tanswell
Morgan Rogers was among the certs to go to the World Cup. Tuchel was won over by Rogers, now a Europa League winner who was named player of the competition on Thursday, almost immediately. He can play in multiple positions across the frontline but is vying for a starting spot in arguably the most competitive position in football: England’s No 10.
Rogers is considered Villa’s best player by people close to manager Unai Emery, with much of the team’s attacking structure built on finding the 23-year-old in conducive positions.
Several Premier League and European clubs are keeping a close eye on Rogers, with the World Cup hoping to be his breakout moment globally.
‘Thomas Tuchel has always loved Stones’
By Jack Pitt-Brooke
No-one in this squad has played less football recently than John Stones. He has not started in the Premier League since last October. His last three starts were all in the FA Cup. He has been down the pecking order all season, and will be leaving Manchester City this summer.
But Thomas Tuchel has always loved Stones. He knows that Stones can do things no other English player can, as he showed with his hybrid midfield role when England played Albania in November. And Tuchel even thinks Stones’ lack of club minutes might be a positive. If he is fit enough, do not be surprised to see him play a big role in the US.