Thomas Tuchel has made one of the most talked-about calls in recent England history. Trent Alexander-Arnold — Liverpool's most creative full-back and one of the most technically gifted players in world football — is not in England's initial 35-man World Cup 2026 squad. Whether you think it's bold or baffling probably depends on what you believe a right-back is supposed to do.
Tuchel announced the provisional group on Wednesday, and the headlines pretty much wrote themselves. Trent is out. Harry Maguire is in. Kobbie Mainoo is in. For England fans who spent large chunks of the Southgate era arguing over exactly these names, it has a certain surreal quality.
Why Alexander-Arnold Was Left Out
Tuchel hasn't been shy about this one. His priority at right-back is defensive solidity, and he's made no secret of the fact that Alexander-Arnold's tendency to push high and play as an inverted midfielder — which Jurgen Klopp refined into an art form at Liverpool — doesn't fit what he wants from a full-back in his England system. Kyle Walker's experience and Trent's cousin Conor Bradley's defensive reliability appear to have won out.
For Alexander-Arnold, 26, it's a crushing blow. He's been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League this season and played a massive role in Liverpool's title push. But international football doesn't always reward club form, especially when a new manager comes in with his own blueprint.
Maguire and Mainoo Get Their Recalls
Harry Maguire makes a return that felt inevitable once Tuchel took over. The Manchester United centre-back was marginalised under Southgate's final months despite being a regular pick for years, and his stock had dipped so low domestically that his inclusion feels almost controversial again. But Tuchel has spoken warmly about Maguire's aerial ability and leadership in the dressing room, and at 33, this is almost certainly his last chance to play at a World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo's inclusion is the one that feels most exciting. The Manchester United midfielder is only 20 years old and already plays with a composure that makes you do a double-take. He had a stunning breakthrough 2023/24 season — including that famous FA Cup final goal against Manchester City — and despite a more difficult campaign this year at Old Trafford, Tuchel clearly sees something special in him. If England are going to use a number eight who can carry the ball through tight spaces, Mainoo is close to the ideal profile.
The Confirmed Core
There's no real surprise at the top of the team. Harry Kane leads the attack and, barring injury, will start every game England play in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer. Bukayo Saka — currently one of the three best wingers in world football — is included and will be expected to create and score. Declan Rice anchors the midfield and is arguably England's single most important player in terms of how the team functions without the ball.
Jude Bellingham is there too, of course. The Real Madrid playmaker comes into the tournament having had a more inconsistent club season than his debut year, but his quality is too obvious to leave out. The question for Tuchel is how he gets the best from a player who thrives with freedom in a system that also needs to be structured.
Warm-Up Games and the Road to Kansas City
Before the tournament starts, England have two friendlies scheduled. They'll face New Zealand on June 6, then Costa Rica on June 10. Both games are low-risk by design — Tuchel has said he'll use them to try combinations and get match sharpness into the squad — but they matter. Players on the fringes of the final 26-man squad will know these games are their last real audition.
England's training base is confirmed as Kansas City, Missouri, which puts them in a central location for their group stage fixtures. The base has decent facilities and the city has genuine football culture now after hosting MLS and international matches for several years. It's not glamorous in the way a European pre-tournament camp might be, but it's practical, and Tuchel seems like a practical man.
England vs Croatia: June 17 Opener
The group stage begins on June 17 when England face Croatia — and yes, the parallels with Euro 2020 and the 2018 World Cup are unavoidable. Croatia knocked England out in Moscow. England beat them at Wembley to open Euro 2020. Now they meet again, and it has the flavour of a proper rivalry rather than a random draw.
Luka Modric is almost certainly playing in his last major tournament, which adds another layer to it. For England, beating Croatia is expected but never quite feels comfortable. If they come through that game with three points and some confidence, the hope is that the momentum can build from there.
What This Squad Tells Us About Tuchel's England
Tuchel is building something a bit more direct than what England showed under Southgate. He wants runners, he wants width, and he wants his midfield to press aggressively. The omission of Alexander-Arnold tells you something about that — Trent's game is about playing through and over the top creatively, but it requires structural accommodations that Tuchel isn't willing to make.
Mainoo's inclusion tells you the opposite story: here's a player whose qualities fit the system rather than a system being built around a player's qualities. That's a more sustainable way to build a squad, even if it costs you one of the most technically gifted players England has produced in a generation.
Whether it works or not, we'll find out in Kansas City on June 17.
England World Cup 2026 Squad Highlights: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire | Group Opener: England vs Croatia, June 17 | Training Base: Kansas City, Missouri
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