Thomas Tuchel made some difficult calls when he named England's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the most eyebrow-raising was the omission of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from the final group. Two of the most technically gifted English players of their generation have been left behind for a tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico that starts on June 11. The announcement, made live from Wembley and broadcast via the official England app, has prompted significant debate about Tuchel's priorities and what it tells us about the system England are planning to deploy.
Tuchel's bold omissions and what they tell us
Foden had a difficult season at Manchester City, but his ability to unlock tight defences in tournament football was something England leaned on heavily during the run to the Euro 2024 final. Cole Palmer, meanwhile, had been one of the Premier League's outstanding performers in recent campaigns. Trent Alexander-Arnold also misses out — a bold call on a player who has been central to Liverpool's success and who has been capped at international level regularly. In their place, Tuchel has backed Jarell Quansah ahead of Manchester United's Harry Maguire, and Ivan Toney has squeezed back into the reckoning after a spell without international recognition. These selections paint a picture of a coach who values physicality and pressing intensity, and who may have moved away from the more technical profile Gareth Southgate favoured in attack.
Harry Kane leading the way
Whatever questions surround the squad selection, Harry Kane leads it as captain and remains England's most irreplaceable figure. The Bayern Munich striker goes into the tournament as one of the top scorers in international football history and will be carrying the weight of a nation's expectations once again. His form in Germany over the past two seasons has been outstanding, and there is genuine optimism that this version of Kane — older, more efficient, more settled — is better equipped for tournament football than at any previous point in his career. England open their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
How far can England go?
The bookmakers make Spain the tournament favourites, with France and England close behind. England's squad has depth in defence and the midfield engine room, and their experience of reaching finals and deep knockout rounds under Southgate provides a foundation. The unanswered question is whether Tuchel's approach can get more from this squad than his predecessor managed, or whether the absence of Foden, Palmer and Alexander-Arnold represents a miscalculation. There will be no shortage of scrutiny if the early performances underwhelm, but tournaments have a habit of being decided by moments that no selection analysis can predict. England's challenge begins in Dallas on June 17.
Tournament context: England manager: Thomas Tuchel. Captain: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich). World Cup opener: vs Croatia, Dallas, June 17, 2026. Notable omissions: Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs June 11 – July 19 across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
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