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Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have both been left out of England's World Cup squad (Image: Getty)
England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the final 26-man squad he will take to the World Cup this summer. The Three Lions boss has not been shy in culling big names with Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold the headline omissions as the German coach looks to win England's first World Cup since 1966 over in the United States.
Tuchel has left out six players with at least 22 caps - Maguire, Foden, Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, Jarrod Bowen and Conor Gallagher. The latter is not so much of a surprise but with Maguire 33 years old and Bowen turning 30 later this year, it is likely the pair will now never go to another World Cup with their countries. Maguire's omission has not gone down well with his family. Palmer was hoping to go to his first World Cup but the Chelsea attacking midfielder has paid the price for a poor last 12 months at club level, as has Manchester City playmaker Foden. Despite their absences, Tuchel has selected some surprise names.
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Though he only has four caps to his name, Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall was widely expected to be on the plane but he misses out. His team-mate Dan Burn, 34, is a shock pick despite being a regular for the Magpies.
Another surprise call-up comes in defence, with Jarell Quansah selected. The Bayer Leverkusen centre-back, formerly of Liverpool and who can also play at right-back, has been picked over the likes of Maguire, Hall, Luke Shaw, Levi Colwill and Fikayo Tomori in defence.
Quanash, 23, is the least-capped outfield player in the squad with just one to his name. His international debut came under Tuchel last November in a 2-0 win away at Albania where he played the full 90 minutes at right-back.
Every other outfielder in the squad has a minimum of four caps. The third big surprise comes up top, where Ivan Toney is selected as a back-up striker. The 30-year-old ex-Brentford centre-forward has had a terrific season in Saudi Arabia with 42 goals and 11 assists.
Albania v England - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
Dan Burn and Jarell Quansah are headed to the US with England (Image: Getty)
But the fact he plays in a lesser league and only has seven caps at his age meant he was not expected to get the nod. Toney's inclusion could owe to the fact he is a penalty-taking expert and also a different profile of No.9 to Harry Kane's main alternative Ollie Watkins.
Toney gets the nod over Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke, despite the fact Leeds' Calvert-Lewin has 14 Premier League goals this season.
Other contentious, but less surprising, decisions given Tuchel's recent squads see Djed Spence preferred to Alexander-Arnold and Adam Wharton and James Garner pipped by veteran Jordan Henderson. Arsenal duo Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have been taken over Bowen, Foden and Palmer.
The 26-man England World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Reece James, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Nico O'Reilly, Dan Burn, Djed Spence
Midfielders
Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze
Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon
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The big England World Cup omissions
Harry Maguire (66 caps, 7 goals)
Phil Foden (49 caps, 4 goals)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (34 caps, 4 goals)
Luke Shaw (34 caps, 3 goals)
Jarrod Bowen (22 caps, 1 goal)
Conor Gallagher (22 caps, 1 goal)
Cole Palmer (14 caps, 2 goals
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (12 caps, 4 goals)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (11 caps)
Nick Pope (10 caps)
Ben White (6 caps, 1 goal)
Myles Lewis-Skelly (6 caps, 1 goal)
Curtis Jones (6 caps, 1 goal)
Morgan Gibbs-White (6 caps)
Fikayo Tomori (6 caps)
Dominic Solanke (5 caps)
Levi Colwill (5 caps)
Aaron Ramsdale (5 caps)
Lewis Hall (4 caps)
Adam Wharton (4 caps)
James Garner (2 caps)
Trevoh Chalobah (1 cap)