England eliminates many stars in the 2026 World Cup squad

Coach Thomas Tuchel created a series of big surprises when announcing the list of 26 England players to participate in the 2026 World Cup, with many famous stars being removed, while Ivan Toney was unexpectedly recalled after a long absence.

Notable names not included in the final list include Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire. In addition, Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest, Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, Lewis Hall of Newcastle, Luke Shaw of Manchester United and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham were also eliminated.

Among them, the biggest surprise decision is probably the return of Ivan Toney. The striker currently playing for Al-Ahli has only played a few minutes for England since EURO 2024 and was once said to have run out of opportunities to participate in the World Cup after moving to Saudi Arabia.

However, his explosive form with 32 goals after 32 matches in the Saudi Pro League this season has helped Toney convince Tuchel to give him a chance to return. Back in February, the former Brentford striker shared that he still had hope of participating in the World Cup, and now that has become a reality.

In addition to Toney, England's list also has many other notable options such as Tottenham's Djed Spence, Man United's Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Jarell Quansah, Ollie Watkins and two experienced players, John Stones and Jordan Henderson.

Tuchel's strong decisions show that the German strategist is ready to create a major reform before the World Cup. He will prioritize form and tactical suitability, instead of the reputation or position of the stars.