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Manchester United's young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has wrapped up his 2026 World Cup campaign without featuring for England even once. After being left out of the third-place play-off against France, England manager Thomas Tuchel has shared an update on the 21-year-old’s condition, following surprising claims that the player was advised to pretend to be injured to skip what was described as a “nonsense” match.

Tuchel reveals late injury setback

Tuchel confirmed that a back problem was the cause of Mainoo’s omission from the matchday squad during England’s 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal clash. Many expected the midfielder to finally make his debut in Miami as Tuchel shuffled his lineup, but he once again had to watch from the sidelines. Prior to the game, the Football Association issued a statement confirming that Mainoo would miss the match due to injury.

After the high-scoring encounter, Tuchel elaborated on the situation, stating, “Kobbie was injured in the last training session yesterday morning. He felt a sharp pain in his back during training and was not fit to play.” The development capped off a disappointing tournament for the Manchester United academy product, who returns to Carrington without logging any competitive minutes despite his outstanding form under Michael Carrick in the previous Premier League season.

Butt slams ‘nonsense’ fixture and advises boycott

The injury news came amid a heated debate triggered by former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, who controversially suggested that Mainoo should have pretended to be injured to avoid taking part in what he called a “nonsense” third-place match. Butt was openly critical of Tuchel’s handling of the youngster, especially after England’s semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina.

“If I were Kobbie Mainoo, I’d refuse to play. I’d say I was injured,” Butt commented. “It’s a nonsense game, particularly after how he’s been treated. He hasn’t played a single minute, and now to start in a pointless glorified friendly where he could get injured for the entire season… absolutely not.”

Neville calls for clarity on Mainoo’s exclusion

Mainoo’s absence throughout England’s knockout-stage matches has fuelled widespread criticism, with fans and analysts questioning Tuchel’s selection choices. Gary Neville joined the chorus on The Overlap, arguing that Mainoo deserved an explanation for his lack of playing time. Neville pointed out that Declan Rice looked completely exhausted, having struggled with illness and injury, yet Mainoo was still overlooked.

Following the semi-final defeat, Neville remarked, “Honestly, we were completely spent. We couldn’t get out of our own box. The midfield dropped deeper because their legs were gone. Look at Declan — he hasn’t been right since the start, has he? That’s a major issue. Without the energy or pace to reach the ball, it hurts the team. Kobbie Mainoo would definitely be wondering why he wasn’t given a chance.”

Concerns for Manchester United ahead of new season

The news will cause concern for manager Michael Carrick and his coaching staff at Manchester United. Mainoo was instrumental during the latter half of last season’s Premier League campaign, and with the new season approaching, the club cannot afford to lose such a key midfielder to a potential long-term back problem.

Manchester United are scheduled to open their Premier League season against Hull City on August 22, giving Mainoo roughly a month to recover from what Tuchel described as a “sharp pain.” After a draining and ultimately disappointing summer in North America, the 21-year-old will now turn his focus towards recovery and getting fit for the domestic campaign.