England World Cup squad announced: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden miss out as Ivan Toney makes dramatic return
Updated 22/05/2026 at 14:05 GMT+1
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have been left out of the England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup while Ivan Toney makes a dramatic return.
Tuchel says he picked 'best team' not '26 most talented players'
Video credit: SNTV
Palmer and Foden are two of the biggest names in English football, but poor recent form has meant no place for the pair on the plane heading to North America.
Toney, who has scored 32 goals in 32 games for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League this season, is in the squad.
Forward Ollie Watkins is also being taken to the finals, a dream week for him continuing after Aston Villa's UEFA Europa League glory.
Real Madrid superstar Alexander-Arnold has also failed to make the cut. The news will come as a desperate blow for the 27-year-old, 12 months on from him leaving Liverpool for the Spanish giants.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire says he is "shocked and gutted" after being left out.
In a post on Instagram, Maguire said: "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."
Chelsea's Palmer, 24, and Manchester City man Foden, 25, are explosive talents on their day. But they have both flattered to deceive this season, and have paid the price.
Palmer has also suffered with injury, missing 26 games across all competitions for Chelsea.
It would have been a major surprise to hear two years ago that neither player would make this World Cup squad. Foden started for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Germany, while Palmer came off the bench and scored for Gareth Southgate's team.
John Stones and Djed Spence are among the defenders to be named, while midfielder Kobbie Mainoo - who was out of favour at Manchester United until Ruben Amorim was replaced by Michael Carrick in the dugout - is one of the midfielders selected.
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Ivan Toney has been scoring goals for fun in Saudi Arabia - now he's going to the World Cup
Image credit: Getty Images
Some eyebrows will have been raised at the exclusion of Morgan Gibbs-White. The Nottingham Forest midfielder has been in terrific form throughout this season.
Gibbs-White is the top-scoring English player in the Premier League, alongside Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on 14 goals.
Tuchel has made his selection and will put his trust in these players to deliver a first major tournament success for England in 60 years.
As well as reaching the Euro 2024 final, England were also runners-up in the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.
At the last two World Cups, England have gone deep. They lost to Croatia in the semi-finals of the 2018 tournament in Russia. At Qatar 2022, they were knocked out by eventual winners France in the quarter-finals.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico kicks off on June 11.
England play their opening match against Croatia on June 17, before they take on Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.
England squad for 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
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