Tuchel announces England’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup: Palmer, Foden and Alexander-Arnold left out

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has finalized the national team’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The German specialist has named 26 players who will represent the Three Lions at the main tournament of the year.

The biggest talking point after the squad announcement was the list of high-profile absentees. Several star players were left out, including Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden and Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Fikayo Tomori, Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker and Ben White also failed to make the final squad.

At the same time, Tuchel will have one of the most valuable squads in the tournament at his disposal. England’s total market value is estimated at €1.32 billion, with Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham being the most valuable player in the team at €140 million.

The average age of the England squad is 27.1 years. The most experienced player in the squad is 35-year-old Jordan Henderson, while the youngest member of the team is 21-year-old Kobbie Mainoo.

England squad for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers:
Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City).

Defenders:
Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guéhi, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham).

Midfielders:
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo.

Forwards:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle).

In the group stage of the World Cup, England will face Panama, Ghana and Croatia. For Tuchel’s team, this tournament will be the first major test following the change in coaching staff, while the squad decisions have already sparked active debate among fans and experts.