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Harry Maguire has shared details of the ‘awkward’ FaceTime conversation he had with Thomas Tuchel, which confirmed his exclusion from England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The Manchester United centre-back, despite being left out of the tournament, has made it clear he has no intention of retiring from international duty as the Three Lions embark on their latest bid for global success.

The veteran defender was left stunned by his omission. At 33, Maguire admitted he was ‘shocked and gutted’ to miss out on Tuchel’s final 26-man squad for the tournament. After completing a solid domestic season under Michael Carrick at Manchester United, he had anticipated a call-up, especially after performing well during England’s March internationals. However, Tuchel opted for John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, and Dan Burn instead.

Recounting the moment he learned the news, Maguire described the experience as particularly tough. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, he explained: “He [Tuchel] FaceTimed everyone. It was quite an awkward call. I received a message asking if we could talk around 4pm. It’s definitely a unique way to do it, and it must be difficult because he can see everyone’s reactions.”

Maguire continued, “I told him straight away that I was really disappointed. I felt I’d done enough to be in the squad and that I could have contributed both on and off the pitch. He said he couldn’t really give me a reason but had stuck with the four players who had helped him through the autumn.”

He added, “It was hard to take. I genuinely thought I’d be in after being called up for the March camp under him for the first time. I did really well in both matches and then went back to Manchester United and finished the season strongly.”

Despite the setback, Maguire remains committed to England. The defender, capped 66 times, continues to stay in touch with senior team members such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Jordan Pickford, offering his support to the squad. Even with Tuchel expected to remain in charge until Euro 2028, Maguire insists he will not walk away from the national team.

“I don’t think I would retire from England,” he said. “I still feel I have something to give. There will come a time when I don’t deserve to be picked, but I probably wouldn’t formally retire. Even if I got one more cap, it would still mean a lot.”

Now, Maguire’s focus turns back to Manchester United, where he plans to rest and prepare for the upcoming 2026–27 season, which includes the club’s return to the Champions League. While his England teammates compete on the world stage, the experienced defender aims to maintain peak form in the Premier League and strengthen his case for a national team return in the future.