Harry Maguire reveals what Tuchel did after excluding him from England squad
Harry Maguire Reflects on World Cup Exclusion from England Squad
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has detailed the communication from England coach Thomas Tuchel regarding his omission from the 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup.
The 33-year-old stated that Tuchel opted to inform players not selected via FaceTime. This decision came as part of Tuchel’s challenging process in finalizing the squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, where several well-known players, including Maguire, were left off the list.
Maguire had recently seen a resurgence in his career at Manchester United under manager Michael Carrick, leading many to speculate that his significant experience in high-stakes tournaments with England would earn him a place on the roster. However, Tuchel’s final selection excluded not only Maguire but also other notable figures such as Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In an appearance on Gary Lineker’s “Rest is Football” podcast, Maguire recounted the moment he received the news. “He FaceTimed everyone. It was quite an awkward call. I received a text saying, ‘Can I speak to you about 4 p.m.?’ It is quite a unique way of doing it, and it must be hard for him because he can see everyone’s reactions. I expressed my disappointment, as I believed I had done enough to warrant a spot in the squad and felt I could contribute both on and off the pitch.”
Maguire explained that Tuchel did not provide a specific reason for his decision but mentioned he chose to go with the players who had performed well during the autumn matches. “It was tough to take. I thought I would be in the squad after being selected for the March camp under him for the first time. I did really well in both games and then returned to Manchester United to finish the season strongly.”
England is set to begin its World Cup campaign against Croatia in their opening match on June 17. Following that, they will face Ghana and Panama on June 23 and June 27, respectively.
