Manchester United’s Harry Maguire has detailed the unusual method England manager Thomas Tuchel used to inform him of his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup squad. The 33-year-old defender, who has 66 international caps, revealed that Tuchel contacted each omitted player via FaceTime, a personal but awkward approach that allowed the coach to witness their reactions firsthand.
Speaking on Gary Lineker’s Rest is Football World Cup podcast, Maguire explained that he received a text message asking if Tuchel could speak with him around 4 pm. During the call, Maguire expressed his disappointment, stating that he believed he had done enough to earn a place in the squad following a strong finish to the season with Manchester United under Michael Carrick. He felt he could contribute both on and off the pitch, given his experience in previous major tournaments.
Tuchel justified his decision by explaining that he had chosen to stick with the four defenders who had helped England during the autumn international break. Maguire admitted the conversation was difficult to accept, especially after he had performed well in the March camp under Tuchel and returned to his club to finish the season strongly. The defender was not the only notable omission; Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold were also left out of the final 26-man squad.
England are set to begin their World Cup campaign in Group L against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, followed by matches against Ghana and Panama on June 23 and June 27, respectively. Maguire’s absence marks a significant change in the team’s defensive lineup, as he has been a regular feature in England’s previous tournament squads.