Tuchel Leaves Foden, Palmer and Trent Out of Betfred England Squad
Betfred England's 2026 World Cup picture changed fast this week as Thomas Tuchel left Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his squad and picked Ivan Toney. The decision lands after England qualified with eight wins from eight games, scoring 22 goals and conceding none.
Tuchel’s squad call
Tuchel has been clear about the scale of the task. He said at his unveiling in October 2024 that the aim was to "try and put a second star on the shirt", and this week he added that England cannot be among the favourites because they have not won the tournament for so long.
He put that view into action with the selections. Foden, Palmer and Alexander-Arnold were left out, while Toney was included. England are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, so the omissions are not just about names on a page; they shape how the side will be built around Harry Kane and the rest of the attack.
England’s clean qualifying run
The route to the tournament was as direct as the numbers suggest. England won all eight qualifying matches, scored 22 times and did not concede, a return that would normally create stability but now sits beside a manager willing to make hard cuts before the finals.
Tuchel arrives with a record that includes league titles with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain and the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. He was appointed after a series of near misses under Gareth Southgate, and England will need that experience to carry into a squad that is being reshaped rather than simply preserved.
Croatia, Ghana and Panama
England open the World Cup on 11 June and then face Croatia on 17 June in Dallas, Ghana on 23 June in Boston and Panama on 27 June in New York/New Jersey. The schedule gives Tuchel’s choices an immediate test, because the squad he has selected will be judged against three matches that arrive in quick succession.
There are still questions around the group’s balance, especially with England expected to use a 4-2-3-1 and with fitness concerns around key players already part of the wider picture. Kane’s England future was doubted after he was substituted during the defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, but Tuchel’s decisions suggest the manager is prepared to take risks before the tournament starts.
