England's World Cup Squad Surprises: Foden, Palmer, and Maguire Left Out
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are set to miss out when Thomas Tuchel announces his 26-man England squad on Friday for this summer's World Cup. Notably, Harry Maguire, the Manchester United defender, expressed that he is "shocked and gutted" by the decision to exclude him. Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker, is expected to be included in the squad after his pivotal role in securing the Europa League title on Wednesday. Alongside him, Ivan Toney from Al-Ahli is likely to be named, having scored an impressive 32 goals in 32 games in the Saudi Arabian league this season. Despite being the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season with 14 goals, Morgan Gibbs-White will also miss out, joining Foden and Palmer, who have struggled for consistency this season. In an emotional Instagram post, Maguire stated, "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." Luke Shaw, another notable omission despite a strong season, was initially included in Tuchel's 55-man provisional squad but is expected to be left out in favor of Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly. Other expected omissions include Levi Colwill and Fikayo Tomori, while Noni Madueke from Arsenal is likely to secure a spot alongside his teammates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze. John Stones of Manchester City is anticipated to be included despite injury concerns. Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace is poised to miss out, while Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United is expected to retain his place. Jordan Henderson from Brentford is also likely to keep his position in the squad. The World Cup kicks off on 11 June, taking place across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-21