What's happened
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been left out of England’s 26-man World Cup squad. He has posted that he is “shocked and gutted” by the decision as Thomas Tuchel prepares to announce his final squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Maguire has been a regular in England squads for years, but recent form at Manchester United and competition for central defender spots have altered the national selection landscape.
- Tuchel is prioritising different profiles at centre-back, with Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi among the likely starters, and experienced options like John Stones facing fitness concerns.
- The decision signals a potential shift in England’s defensive plans ahead of the World Cup, with younger or more in-form players expected to feature.
- The timing, ahead of a high-stakes summer tournament, heightens scrutiny on Tuchel’s squad management and Maguire’s international future.
How we got here
Maguire has been part of England’s squads since 2017, helping the team reach the 2018 World Cup semifinals and the Euro 2020 final. He has 66 England caps and seven goals. He has been involved with United since his early career and recently saw his international involvement wane since September 2024.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera, AP News, The Guardian, BBC News
Go deeper
- Will Maguire feature for England in the next cycle or retire from international football?
- Who replaces Maguire in Tuchel’s plans and how might that change England’s defensive setup?
- How has Maguire’s club form affected his international prospects this year?
More on these topics
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Thomas Tuchel - German football coach
Thomas Tuchel is a German professional football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.
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Harry Maguire - English footballer
Jacob Harry Maguire is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Manchester United, whom he captains, and the England national team.
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FIFA World Cup - Football competition
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport's global governin