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Ahead of England’s official squad confirmation on May 22, a number of high-profile omissions have shocked the English football landscape.
Manchester City playmaker Phil Foden, Chelsea star Cole Palmer, Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw and veteran defender Harry Maguire have all been left out of the final 26-man squad that will travel to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Conversely, Arsenal winger Noni Madueke, Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Newcastle defender Tino Livramento have secured their places on the final list.
The final decision on the roster is approaching
The exclusion of Palmer comes as a surprise to some after his outstanding performance at Euro 2024, where he scored in England’s 2-1 loss to Spain in the final.
Foden has provided 10 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances in all competitions for City this season but has struggled to match the form he hit in previous seasons for club and country.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer of England during the International Friendly match between England and Japan at Wembley Stadium on March 31, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Gibbs-White has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season for Nottingham Forest with 14 goals and four assists in 36 games.
Toney’s last appearance for England came as a late substitute in a friendly loss to Senegal in June 2025. He was not included during the most recent England camp in March.
Mainoo played in both of England’s friendlies in March, coming on as a sub against Uruguay and starting against Japan, his first appearances for the national team since 2024.
Madueke, 24, has made 41 appearances for Premier League champions Arsenal but has not started their last three games following Bukayo Saka’s return from injury.
He also appeared as a substitute against Uruguay before being one of eight players to withdraw ahead of the second friendly against Japan.
Livramento made his England debut in the 2024 Nation League and has started the last five games for the Three Lions.
Maguire ‘shocked and mended’
Macguire confirmed in a social media post on Thursday that he is not part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the USA, Canada and Mexico tournament, saying he was “shocked and appalled” by the decision.
Tuchel is due to confirm his squad on Friday.
Maguire helped England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the 2020 European Championship. He was also part of the England team that reached the quarter-finals at the recent World Cup in Qatar. An injury ruled him out of Euro 2024.
“I was convinced I could have played a big part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’m shocked and dismayed by the decision. I wish the players all the best,” he said.
Maguire was handed his first call-up by Tuchel in March after helping revive United’s season following the departure of former coach Ruben Amorim. Before that, he had been frozen out of the national team since September 2024.
Having been an integral part of former England manager Gareth Southgate’s squad, Maguire has fallen behind the likes of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa in recent years.
