Thomas Tuchel left Palmer, Foden and Alexander-Arnold at home and built England’s World Cup squad around Kane and Bellingham. A Group L opener with Croatia awaits in Dallas.
Thomas Tuchel promised he would pick on form, not reputation. His England squad for World Cup 2026 proves he meant it. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire were the eye-catching names left out of the 26 (Sky Sports).
In a tournament England have spent 60 years failing to win, the German's willingness to make unpopular calls is either the boldness they have lacked — or a gamble that could backfire.
Harry Kane captains the side and leads a forward line that also includes Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney and Anthony Gordon (ESPN). Jude Bellingham headlines a midfield stocked with Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze.
It is a group built on running power and defensive structure rather than the surplus of flair England usually agonise over leaving behind.
Dropping Palmer and Foden — two of the Premier League's most gifted attackers — is the kind of decision that gets a manager remembered one way or the other. Tuchel's logic is clearly about balance and roles rather than raw ability.
!Tuchel picked the team he wants to play, not the 26 most talented Englishmen. That is the gamble.
Leaving out Alexander-Arnold reshapes the right side entirely, while Maguire's absence closes a long chapter in England's defensive story.
England headline Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. They begin against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, then face Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 (England Football).
Croatia, even in transition, remain a tournament side who know how to control a midfield — exactly the kind of test that will tell us early whether Tuchel's structure holds up.
This is the most clearly authored England squad in years: fewer luxury picks, more defined roles, and a manager prepared to wear the criticism. Whether it ends the wait is the question of the summer.
Read the case for the Three Lions in why England can win, study the section in the Group L preview, and make your call on the predictions page.
Kickoff XI is an independent publication and is not affiliated with FIFA.
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