BREAKING: Tuchel set to drop Foden, Palmer and Maguire from England’s World Cup squad

Toney, Watkins in Line for Recall as England Boss Makes Big Calls

England manager Thomas Tuchel is poised to make several headline decisions when he unveils his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup on Friday, with Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire all expected to miss out, Sport360NG reports. 

While the omissions of Foden and Palmer follow inconsistent club campaigns, Maguire’s anticipated exclusion has generated significant reaction after the defender publicly admitted he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with England preparing through friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica before opening their group-stage campaign against Croatia on 17 June.

Maguire Reacts to Expected Snub

Maguire, who has earned 67 caps for England, took to Instagram to express his frustration after learning he would not be part of Tuchel’s plans despite a strong season with Manchester United.

“I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” Maguire posted. “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.”

The defender’s mother, Zoe Maguire, also voiced her displeasure on social media, describing the decision as “disgusted.”

Fellow United defender Luke Shaw is also expected to miss the final squad despite renewed calls for his inclusion following an impressive campaign.

Toney and Watkins Earn Tuchel’s Trust

In contrast, Ivan Toney appears set for a recall after a prolific season with Al-Ahli, where he has netted 32 goals in 32 league matches.

Ollie Watkins is likewise expected to retain his place after helping Aston Villa secure Europa League glory earlier this week.

However, Morgan Gibbs-White is reportedly set to miss out despite finishing as the Premier League’s highest-scoring English player this season with 14 goals.

Foden and Palmer Pay Price for Inconsistent Seasons

Both Foden and Palmer entered the season with high expectations but struggled to consistently deliver at club level.

Foden, who has made 49 appearances for England, started only 22 Premier League matches for Manchester City this term, registering seven goals and five assists.

Palmer, meanwhile, endured an injury-hit campaign with Chelsea, scoring nine league goals as the London side slipped to a disappointing eighth-place finish.

Former England defender Phil Jagielka believes Tuchel’s decision reflects the manager’s emphasis on current form rather than reputation.

“It’s not been a great season for either Phil Foden or Cole Palmer,” Jagielka said. “Thomas Tuchel wants to pick on form and chemistry, so I’m not surprised.”

Defensive Shake-Up Opens Door for Stones

The expected omissions of Maguire, Fikayo Tomori and Levi Colwill are likely to strengthen the chances of John Stones being selected despite his injury-disrupted season.

Tuchel reportedly still views the Manchester City centre-back as a key figure in his defensive setup.

Newcastle defender Dan Burn and City youngster Nico O’Reilly are both expected to earn places in the squad, while Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is also understood to have secured selection.

Mainoo Retains Place as Henderson Stays in Favour

Kobbie Mainoo is set to keep his place in the squad following his recall for recent friendlies, while veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson remains a trusted figure under Tuchel.

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is expected to miss out despite an encouraging season.

Meanwhile, players such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze are all anticipated to feature prominently in the final squad.

Tuchel Sticking Firm on Selection Philosophy

Jagielka added that Tuchel deserves credit for remaining committed to his selection principles despite the inevitable scrutiny surrounding major omissions.

“With the Harry Maguire situation, Tuchel has decided to go with other options,” he said. “I think Maguire’s form this year put him in as good a position as he could have been in, but Tuchel’s stuck to his guns and you’ve got to respect that.”

England are set to begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia before further group-stage matches against Ghana and Panama.

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

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

The final place in the 26-man squad is expected to go to Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly, Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold or Everton midfielder James Garner.