England’s squad for the World Cup will be confirmed on Friday morning but it is already becoming clear that Thomas Tuchel has made some bold calls ahead of the big kick-off
21:00, 21 May 2026Updated 23:19, 21 May 2026
Ivan Toney is back in the England squad for the World Cup(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
,Ivan Toney has received a sensational World Cup call-up.
England boss Thomas Tuchel will include Toney in his 26 man squad when he names it on Friday. The 30-year-old has been in the International wilderness for the past 12 months but has scored 42 goals in 37 games for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
Mirror Sport revealed on May 11 that Tuchel was considering bringing back the ex-Brentford striker and he will get the nod amid some huge casualties.
Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire have all been axed while Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo are expected to make the cut.
READ MORE: England World Cup squad LIVE: Maguire, Palmer and Foden AXED as brutal Tuchel calls emerge
OPINION
John Cross
Watkins was axed from England’s last squad in March but the Aston Villa striker has been rewarded for his outstanding form since then, including winning the Europa League final.
Foden has missed out because of a lack of game time at Manchester City while Palmer is also out because he has struggled for form and fitness this season.
Luke Shaw is out while his Manchester United teammate Maguire has also been axed by ruthless Tuchel and that would surely end his England career.
Maguire, 33, has enjoyed a terrific second half of the season and hoped to make it despite Tuchel insisting in March that he was effectively SIXTH choice centre half behind the likes of Dan Burn as well as Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and John Stones.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is also in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Maguire issued a statement and said: “I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.”
Tuchel is naming 26 players on Friday and they will fly to Florida on June 1 but Arsenal’s contingent will not join up until later that week.
England begin their World Cup campaign in Dallas against Croatia on June 17.
England (possible): Pickford, Henderson, Trafford
James, Quansah, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly, Burn, Lewis-Skelly, Livramento
Rice, Anderson, Mainoo, Henderson, Rogers, Eze, Bellingham
Saka, Madueke, Rashford, Gordon
Kane, Watkins, Toney
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