England head coach Thomas Tuchel has official announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup – suffice to say, the overall reaction to his selection has been mixed, to say the least.
While top players such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford inevitably made the grade, some huge names had to miss out as a result.
Today, we’ve put together an XI of the best England players who failed to make it into Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad. Do you agree with our picks?
GK: Nick Pope
While we may not agree with many of Tuchel’s selections, we feel he has got it right in the goalkeeper department. Nevertheless, Nick Pope stands out as England’s fourth-best shot-stopper at the moment.
Even still, Pope is showing clear signs of decline. He still shows flashes of brilliance for Newcastle United, but he has kept just seven clean sheets in 26 Premier League games this season.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
The omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold is certainly unfortunate, but not without reason. The former Liverpool man has endured a disappointing campaign at Real Madrid, but he offers something that no-one else in the national pool can.
Alexander-Arnold’s range of passing is spectacular. He can turn defence into attack with one long ball – even if his defensive acumen is limited, his ability to weight a pass and proficiency from set-pieces would have made him a useful option at the very least.
CB: Harry Maguire
This one, for us, made no sense at all. Yes, Harry Maguire has taken some intense criticism during his Manchester United spell, but those critics have been far less loquacious during the current season. When called upon, Maguire has been very, very solid in the 2025/26 campaign.
Practically unbeatable in the air, Maguire is the perfect player for international tournaments. He doesn’t need to start every game – his aerial presence can change a match in an instant, whether he needs to cause trouble in the opposition box or help to shore up the backline against a last-gasp onslaught. This was Maguire’s last realistic chance to play at a World Cup, being 33 – one has to feel for him.
CB: Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill has spent the majority of the 2025/26 season out with an ACL injury, but his talents as a modern defender can’t be denied. We understand why he has been left out, but still believe he merited a spot in the squad.
Colwill is a complete defender. His ability on the ball is excellent, but he’s also very physically gifted – despite being such a young defender, he never allows himself to be bullied, always remaining tenacious in an aerial duel.