Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Thomas Tuchel has named two Manchester United players in his England squad for the first games since the World Cup.
While the 2026 World Cup ended with a 6-4 win over France in the bronze-medal play-off, England exited with more questions than answers.
Did Kobbie Mainoo have a future in the national team under Thomas Tuchel? Is Harry Maguire’s international career over? How did Anthony Gordon so often start ahead of Marcus Rashford?
It looks like we have some answers – but not all – following Tuchel’s England squad announcement for the September-October international break. As far as Michael Carrick is concerned, two Manchester United players have been called up to play for the Three Lions in their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
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Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo make England squad
Tuchel has named his first England squad of the 2026/27 season, with Rashford and Mainoo the only two United players called up by the former Chelsea head coach.
In turn, that means there’s no place for Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount after all three were overlooked for the 2026 World Cup as Tuchel selected a 27-man squad on Friday morning. England will play four matches against Spain, Czechia and Croatia.
There can be no complaints about Rashford and Mainoo making the squad, despite United’s disappointing start to the 2026/27 season. Rashford has been a threat on the left flank since returning to Old Trafford from a loan spell at Barcelona, while Mainoo remains Carrick’s best midfielder after significant summer investment.
However, Mainoo’s selection may come as a bit of a surprise after the young midfielder didn’t play a single minute at the World Cup. Tuchel overlooked the United starlet throughout the tournament. Then, a back injury kept him out of the play-off against France.
England squad for September & October:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Some of the key omissions that will grab headlines over the coming days are Phil Foden, Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Reece James, Ollie Watkins, Maguire, and Djed Spence. Those added to the squad since the World Cup include Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Alex Scott, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jason Steele, and Rio Ngumoha.
When will Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo be in action for England?
After being called up for the September-October internationals, Rashford and Mainoo could play four matches for the Three Lions as the Nations League kicks off.
Here are their four fixtures coming up:
Saturday 26 September – England vs Spain, 19:45
Tuesday 29 September – Czech Republic vs England, 19:45
Saturday 3 October – Croatia vs England, 17:00
Tuesday 6 October – England vs Czech Republic, 19:45
The priority for Carrick and everyone at United is that every player on international duty returns fit and without any injuries or niggles.