England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to leave out several established stars when he announces his final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, in a decision that could reshape expectations ahead of the Three Lions’ Group L meeting with Ghana national football team.
A number of high-profile players are reportedly set to miss out on the tournament squad, with injuries, form concerns and limited game time appearing to have influenced Tuchel’s thinking ahead of the finals.
Among the most notable absentees are Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill of Chelsea F.C.. Palmer, who scored a late equaliser in the Euro 2024 final, has endured an inconsistent campaign affected by recurring injury problems. Colwill, meanwhile, has only recently regained fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during pre-season, restricting him to very few first-team appearances.
Phil Foden is also expected to be omitted. The Manchester City F.C. midfielder has struggled for regular starts since mid-February, making only two Premier League starts in that period. Questions have also persisted over his influence with the national side despite his club pedigree.
Tuchel himself acknowledged those concerns following England’s March friendlies, saying Foden “struggles to have the full impact” despite being “excellent in camp”.
Further changes are anticipated across the squad. Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace F.C. is reportedly set to miss out, while Harry Maguire has already revealed his disappointment after learning he would not be included in the final group.
Maguire said he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision.
Defenders Luke Shaw and Fikayo Tomori are also expected to be excluded from the travelling party as Tuchel prepares for his first World Cup in charge of England.
Despite the anticipated omissions, England are still expected to arrive at the tournament with one of the strongest squads in the competition. Captain Harry Kane is set to spearhead the attack, with Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice also expected to play central roles.
A surprise recall is reportedly on the cards for Ivan Toney after an impressive goal-scoring campaign in Saudi Arabia. Midfielders Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers and veteran Jordan Henderson are also expected to retain their places.
The sweeping changes come as England prepare for a challenging Group L campaign against Ghana, Croatia and Panama. For Ghana’s Black Stars, the exclusions may indicate an England side undergoing transition under Tuchel, although the European side still possesses a squad filled with experienced internationals and attacking talent.
Tuchel is due to officially confirm his 26-man World Cup squad on Friday morning, with the announcement likely to generate intense debate over the players left behind as much as those selected for the tournament.
