Harry Maguire didn’t wait for the official announcement to share his displeasure after being left out of England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. While his frustration has been making waves on social media, Thomas Tuchel finally shared his response to the situation.
After much anticipation, Tuchel released England’s 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup. However, the German was immediately scrutinized as the list left out top names such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Luke Shaw, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While these players have been silent on their snub as of now, Maguire was quite the opposite. The Manchester United defender claimed to be “shocked and gutted by the decision” after missing out on the tournament. However, after the roster announcement, the England manager revealed he was also surprised by Maguire’s social media post.
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“I was a bit surprised, but I respect his personality a lot, I respect his quality a lot,” said Tuchel about the defender. The England boss acknowledged that Maguire had every reason to feel disappointed after a decent Premier League campaign which earned Man Utd a spot in the UEFA Champions League. He played 22 games in the league this season.
Meanwhile, his Manchester rival John Stones, who played only eight Premier League games this season due to multiple injuries, was included in England’s squad. Tuchel, however, stressed that the decision was based on continuity and trust in the group that helped England through the earlier stages of qualification.
The former Chelsea manager also revealed he had a phone call with Maguire, giving him the opportunity to vent his frustration. “I was a bit surprised as we had a private conversation. He had the chance to express his feelings, which he did,” Tuchel said. He further pointed out leadership dynamics within the locker room.
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“Some of them are part of the leadership group that took ownership and set the standards high,” said the 52-year-old manager. Maguire has frequently worn the captain’s armband for England whenever Harry Kane was absent or substituted.
As Maguire gets closer to the final phase of his football career, it’s unclear how many more international caps he will have. He was also excluded from England's 2024 Euro squad due to calf injury. The 33-year-old would hope to find his position back in the squad at least by the next World Cup in 2030.
