Tuchel Set to Drop Foden, Palmer and Maguire from England's World Cup Squad

England's World Cup Squad Takes Shape as Big Names Face the Axe

Thomas Tuchel is expected to deliver a number of major surprises when he unveils his 26-man England squad on Friday ahead of this summer's World Cup. Among the most notable absentees are Manchester City attacking midfielder Phil Foden, Chelsea's Cole Palmer, and veteran Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.

Maguire Left Shocked by Tuchel's Decision

Maguire, 33, made no secret of his feelings following the news, taking to Instagram to share his reaction. "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," he wrote.

The experienced centre-back, who has earned 67 caps for England and found the net seven times at international level, had spoken openly last month about his desire to represent his country at what he anticipated could be his final World Cup. His mother, Zoe, also voiced her disapproval on social media, describing the omission as "disgusting."

Foden and Palmer Pay the Price for Inconsistent Club Form

Foden and Palmer, two of England's most technically gifted attacking options, have both endured frustrating domestic campaigns. Foden managed just 22 Premier League starts for City this season, contributing seven goals and five assists across 32 top-flight outings. Palmer, meanwhile, was hampered by injury throughout the campaign, scoring nine goals in 25 league appearances for a Chelsea side that limped to eighth place in the table.

Tuchel's philosophy of selecting players based on current form and tactical fit appears to have worked against both men, despite their considerable international pedigree.

Who Makes the Cut — and Who Misses Out

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins is poised to earn his place in the squad, buoyed by a memorable Europa League triumph on Wednesday. He is joined in attack by Ivan Toney, who has been in remarkable form for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, netting an extraordinary 32 goals in 32 appearances this season.

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White faces disappointment despite finishing as the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season, jointly tied with Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on 14 goals.

Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is understood to have secured his spot, joining Premier League title-winning teammates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze, who has earned his call-up on the back of a standout individual season.

Defensive Shuffles and Midfield Questions

On the defensive front, Chelsea's Levi Colwill and AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori are both expected to miss out, while Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw — despite a strong season and inclusion in Tuchel's provisional 55-man group — looks set to be overlooked in favour of Newcastle's Dan Burn and Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly.

The absence of Maguire, Tomori, and Colwill opens the door for John Stones to retain his place, despite a season disrupted by injury. Tuchel reportedly considers Stones a key figure in his defensive setup, though fitness concerns surrounding the outgoing City man remain.

In midfield, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is expected to miss out, while Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo looks set to keep his place after being recalled for England's recent friendly fixtures. Brentford veteran Jordan Henderson, a trusted figure under Tuchel, is also anticipated to retain his squad berth.

England's World Cup Road Ahead

England will fine-tune their preparations with warm-up friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica before heading into the tournament proper. Tuchel's side open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June, with subsequent Group Stage fixtures against Ghana and Panama to follow.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — and gets underway on 11 June.