Trent Alexander-Arnold was left largely absent from England’s shocking 35-man squad, with Harry Maguire and Kobie Mainu receiving their first call-ups under Thomas Tuchel.
Aston Villa’s out-of-form striker Ollie Watkins also missed out, despite manager Tuchel naming 10 forwards in an unusual selection process in which marginal players were given a final audition before the 2026 World Cup.
Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke are two potential strikers who have been called up, along with Harry Kane, to compete for the captain’s substitute role in the Wembley friendly against Uruguay (March 27) and Japan (March 31).
Maguire and Mainu are Manchester United players called up by Tuchel as England manager, but Luke Shaw has been left out of the squad.
“I know it’s a difficult decision for Trent as well as Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw,” Tuchel said when asked about the omission of senior players so close to announcing the World Cup squad.
“The job comes with tough decisions. This is a sporting decision. We support Quansah, Librament and Spence.
“This is a decision for Solanke and Calvert-Lewin. I don’t know him as well as Watkins, but I have a clear picture of what he can bring to us. I’d like to look at other players to get a clearer picture.”
“I know Trent is a big name, a huge talent and a great career. But I also know what Trent can give us.”
Everton midfielder James Garner has been selected for the first national team, while AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, who last played for England in 2023, has also received a shock call-up.
Tuchel said he had chosen the squad, which is essentially split into separate camps for each match, “to spark competition for flights to the United States.”
Only 24 members of Tuchel’s squad will be present for the first friendly against Uruguay, but 11 others will arrive in camp ahead of the match against Japan as the manager looks to balance his own needs with a demanding domestic schedule.
“They have all played over 3,500 minutes this season,” Tuchel explained. “Some players have already played more minutes than they did all of last season, so there’s still a lot of football to play.
“They’re all contributing in September, October and November, and they’re all giving me a little bit of credit. I think it’s beneficial for us to give them a break mentally and physically. They’re going to come in hungry.”
Brighton’s reserve goalkeeper Jason Steele is uncapped and has not played in the Premier League since August 2024, but he has been included in the squad for what Tuchel described as a “trial” for a special role in the run-up to the World Cup.
Tuchel revealed that England will be bringing four goalkeepers to the tournament, saying: “(Steele) will support the goalkeeping group. He will support the goalkeeping coach.”
“He will support our penalty-taking group and take a lot of the workload off other shoulders. That’s why we need experienced players.”
He added: “Although there is no one on the plane to America, we have determined that Jason is an extremely suitable candidate for this role. Trial is currently in March camp.”
Alex Scott and Nick Pope have been selected to represent England in November. Both missed out here, with Pope losing his place at both club and international level to Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale and Man City’s James Trafford are named in the squad, along with first choice Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson.
Trevor Chalobah and Reece James were included in the November squad but are currently sidelined due to injury.
Tuchel explains ‘extraordinary’ team selection
Commenting on his unusual selection of squads, Tuchel said: “We decided to split it into almost two camps. We have a camp where we bring in players we haven’t seen or players who haven’t played much to increase the competition for tickets to the United States.”
“From Friday and Saturday, the rested teams will enter camp. We will face the match against Japan with new members.”
Sky Sports News reported that each country could select 26 players for this summer’s tournament.
‘I’ve never seen a camp like this’ – Will Tuchel’s experiment work?
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ senior correspondent Rob Dorsett explains why head coach Thomas Tuchel has named such a large England squad and why it features some surprising names.
Sky Sports News football correspondent Rob Dorsett:
“The selection of 35 players is attractive. It’s never been done before, right? It’s a new approach and one of the things we’ve seen from Tuchel is that he’s not afraid to break out of the copybook and try things.”
“It’s innovative. It’ll be interesting to see if the dynamic works. If he’s that clearly delineated in terms of our new players, let’s see how they do. And this is our more established players, we’re going to rest them more.”
“That will lead to some interesting dynamics as we select the squad and see who is available and who is still in camp by the time we arrive for the first game a week from tomorrow.
“I am very surprised that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not available.
“I have to say, he would be very scared of the possibility of being in the World Cup squad now.”
Full list of England national teams
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele.
Defenders: Dan Byrne, Mark Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah, Jed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori.
Midfielders: Elliott Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Koby Mainu, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton.
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Solanke.
