Tuchel names England World Cup squad, drops Foden and Palmer
In brief
- Tuchel took charge January 1, 2025, with an 18-month contract covering the 2026 World Cup.
- Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold dropped; Jordan Henderson recalled.
- 2026 World Cup expands to 48-team format across US, Canada, and Mexico.
- Tuchel is England's first German head coach and third non-British permanent manager.
Squad Decisions Reshape England's Attack
The headline decisions: Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are out. Jordan Henderson is in. These omissions signal a tactical reset from Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 and reached the final with Paris Saint-Germain. Foden's exclusion stands out — the Manchester City winger was a cornerstone of England's recent campaigns. Palmer, emerging as Chelsea's attacking talent, and Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's fullback, also miss the cut. Henderson's recall brings midfield experience back into the frame.
Tuchel inherits a team scarred by near-misses. England reached a World Cup semifinal in 2018, lost a European Championship final in 2021 on penalties at home, and fell to Spain in the Euros final in 2024. The pressure is immense.
Historic Appointment in North America
He's the first German to hold the position. He is the third non-British permanent manager in England's history, following Sven-Goran Eriksson (who reached a quarterfinal) and Fabio Capello (who didn't make it out of the group stage in 2010). The appointment itself breaks convention.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, features an expanded 48-team format. England's tournament begins on June 17, 2026. The expanded format means more teams qualify and more matches are played — a structural change that could favor deeper runs for established nations. Tuchel's tactical acumen, honed across elite European clubs, will be tested on a bigger stage.
