Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer have been left out of England’s World Cup squad.
Ivan Toney, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have been included as understudies to captain Harry Kane.
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento and Arsenal winger Noni Madueke are also among the players to have been selected for this summer’s tournament by head coach Thomas Tuchel, who will name his final 26-man squad on Friday.
Mainoo’s United teammate Luke Shaw has also missed out, along with Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Manchester United centre-half Harry Maguire has already revealed he has not made the cut, writing on social media: “I was confident I could of played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.
“I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years.
“I wish the players, all the best this summer”.
England begin the tournament against Croatia on June 17 before facing Ghana on June 23 and rounding off Group L against Panama three days later.
Tuchel’s squad will travel to the U.S. on June 1, and face New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica four days later in warm-up games during their preparation camp in Florida.
Additional reporting by Liam Twomey and Jack Pitt-Brooke
Foden omission ‘no great surprise’
Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
It is no great surprise that Foden has not made the squad and even his biggest supporters would surely have to admit that he has not done enough to deserve a call up this season, given his poor form and lack of game time for City this calendar year. The fact that Tuchel has been ruthless with Palmer shows there is some consistency to his decisions, too.
The unfortunate thing for Foden is that he had started to look bright in the last couple of games but clearly that was not going to be enough to change Tuchel’s mind. The manager did give Foden a fair crack of the whip during the most recent international break but he could not take his chance, and so it would have felt generous to take him.
‘Palmer can have no complaints’
By Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey
When he came off the bench to score for England in the final of Euro 2024 two years ago, it seemed inconceivable that Cole Palmer would not even make this World Cup squad.
The sad reality is that on form, he can have no complaints. Palmer has scored just five non-penalty goals and contributed only three assists across all competitions since lighting up the FIFA Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
A lingering groin injury has taken its toll, as has the instability at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps a summer of rest will be the best thing for him – and for incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.
‘Toney’s inclusion a huge shock’
By Tottenham correspondent Jay Harris
Toney’s inclusion is a huge shock because he has not played for England under Tuchel since a brief cameo in last year’s defeat to Senegal in June 2025. The 30-year-old has gone under the radar slightly since he left Brentford in August 2024 but has been in exceptional form for Al Ahli. He has scored 32 goals in as many appearances in the Saudi Pro League this season.
Toney demonstrated his value at the Euros in 2024 with an assist for Harry Kane’s extra-time winner in the last 16 tie against Slovakia and a composed penalty in the shootout victory over Switzerland. He might not play a lot but he is a wildcard Tuchel can pull in emergency circumstances.
‘Mainoo’s remarkable turnaround’
By Manchester United correspondent Mark Critchley
Mainoo’s prospects of a spot on the plane appeared remote at the turn of the year, to put it mildly. At that point, he was struggling for a spot in United’s midfield, still waiting for his first Premier League game this season.
Michael Carrick’s appointment changed all of that. Mainoo has been a regular ever since, bringing the composure and ability to play under pressure that United were previously missing. Many would say England have lacked those qualities over the years too, at least until Mainoo’s breakthrough as a starter at Euro 2024.
They are qualities Tuchel admires and, despite competition in that department from Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Mainoo’s call-up is a deserved reward for his remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
‘Too little too late for Colwill’
By Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson
It is just a case of too little too late unfortunately for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
The 23-year-old worked wonders to make the provisional 55-man squad at all, given he missed most of the season with a serious knee injury.
Tuchel was at Wembley to see Colwill shine in Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, which was only his second start of the campaign.
Yet it is understandable why Tuchel felt he could not take the risk given the lack of minutes the centre back has had.
Unlike some others who have been left out, Colwill can be reassured knowing that this is injury related and not a pure football decision.
Colwill will actually benefit from having a summer off and being ready to join in from the very start of pre-season training under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. With the character he is, Colwill will use this as motivation to make sure he gets back in the squad for the European Championships qualifying campaign.
‘Shaw worthy of greater consideration’
By Mark Critchley
Sunday could see Shaw complete a full set of 38 starts in a Premier League season, a remarkable achievement for a player with his chequered injury history, having made just seven league appearances last term.
The 30-year-old has not only been consistently available but consistent full stop. He is no longer an especially adventurous full-back, but is still a dependable one, and capable of playing on the left of a back three, too.
Given his last cap was the Euro 2024 final, his omission is no surprise, but his steady displays and tournament experience made him worthy of greater consideration.
