Trent Alexander-Arnold has been omitted from England's final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, a decision that has sparked widespread surprise among fans. The former Liverpool right-back, now at Real Madrid, was not selected by manager Thomas Tuchel for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The squad features no current Liverpool players, though former Reds Jarell Quansah and Jordan Henderson have been included. Other notable absentees include Harry Maguire, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, with Tuchel opting for a different tactical approach.
Social media reactions have been critical, with many fans questioning the exclusion. One fan wrote: 'Not every player has to be selected but Trent and Maguire not going to the World Cup is a joke.' Another added: 'Djed Spence over Trent is outrageous.'
Tuchel had previously explained his reasoning during the March international break, stating: 'We created a slightly different game model... built on intensity, built on positivity... so it was a slightly different profile of players.' He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but stood by his choice.
England will play friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica before facing Ghana, Panama, and Croatia in the group stage.
