The 2026 World Cup isn’t far away. Thomas Tuchel will be finalising his England squad plans – sadly, some fantastic players will have to remain at home due to the level of talent within the national pool.
In this piece, we’ve picked out an XI of England players who are likely to miss out on the 2026 World Cup. This can be for any reason – whether they are too young, too old or have experienced misfortune during the 2025/26 season.
GK: Aaron Ramsdale
Aaron Ramsdale’s stock fell when David Raya joined Arsenal and forced him out of the XI – since then, his career has never really recovered.
Nevertheless, Ramsdale is a very well-rounded goalkeeper and is comfortably England’s fourth choice. Should any of England’s main ‘keepers pick up an injury, he could find himself back in contention.
RB: Kyle Walker
In his prime, Kyle Walker was one of the best right-backs in England’s history – now, at the age of 33, his best years are but a wistful memory.
Despite this, Walker brings plenty of experience to the table. He knows how to win matches at the highest level of football, which can be invaluable in the international game.
CB: James Tarkowski
James Tarkowski can considered himself incredibly unfortunate to have only picked up one England cap over the course of his career. He has always been a solid hand, whether at Burnley or Everton.
Ultimately, he has often found himself lost in the mix – at the age of 33, this will most likely still be the case in the summer.
CB: James Hill
James Hill is one of the most underrated defenders in the Premier League. Alongside the excellent Marcos Senesi, he has made massive improvments to his game this season.
But will that be enough to land him a spot in the England squad? Given the level of established talents already in contention, he may need to wait a bit longer for his chance.