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Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are reportedly set to be excluded from England’s 2026 World Cup squad, after Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man roster was leaked ahead of the official announcement expected on Friday. Luke Shaw is also tipped to join his Manchester United teammate Harry Maguire among the notable omissions for the tournament in North America.

Foden and Palmer face disappointment

Despite his well-known ability, Phil Foden has had a mixed season at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, managing just 22 Premier League starts and netting seven goals. According to The Athletic, Cole Palmer will also miss out, even after featuring in 33 matches for Chelsea this season, where he scored 10 goals and contributed three assists. In a surprising twist, former Brentford striker Ivan Toney—now playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli—is expected to make Tuchel’s final World Cup squad, despite having logged under five minutes of international play under the German coach.

Defensive reshuffle sidelines Shaw and Tomori

The left-back role has been a talking point for months, but Shaw appears unlikely to solve Tuchel’s defensive puzzle. Although he was part of the 55-man preliminary list and had widespread public backing, the United defender is set to be omitted, following Maguire’s confirmed absence from the final squad. In their place, Newcastle United’s Dan Burn and Manchester City prospect Nico O’Reilly are expected to get the nod.

AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori is another significant exclusion as Tuchel reorganises his defence. Despite strong performances in Serie A, Tomori will reportedly miss out alongside Maguire, paving the way for John Stones to reclaim a central role at the back. Although Stones has endured an injury-hit season with City, Tuchel continues to value his composure and experience at the top level.

Arsenal stars and Henderson retain their places

While some senior figures are being phased out, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill remains hopeful of inclusion after returning from a long knee injury. The outlook is much brighter for Arsenal’s contingent, with The Athletic reporting that Noni Madueke is set to make the final squad, joining fellow Gunners Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo is also expected to travel to North America.

In a show of faith in leadership and stability, Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson is poised to keep his place. A consistent presence under Tuchel, Henderson’s leadership qualities and influence in the dressing room have been highly valued by the coach. With the tournament kicking off on June 11, Tuchel is relying on a blend of seasoned leaders and in-form forwards to navigate a challenging group stage.

England’s World Cup campaign set to begin

Preparations for the World Cup will commence with friendly matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, offering Tuchel’s chosen 26 a final opportunity to fine-tune their chemistry before the competition begins. England will open their World Cup journey against Croatia on June 17, a stern early test of Tuchel’s daring squad decisions. The Three Lions will then face Ghana and Panama to complete their group stage fixtures.