England squad for 2026 World Cup: Ivan Toney and John Stones in, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer out
England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup has seen Ivan Toney and John Stones called up, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are left out, according to BBC Sport. Sky Sports identifies the group as Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup this summer, and those are the selection calls that define the announcement.
Toney and Stones are the standout inclusions because they give Tuchel two established options in a tournament squad that has also made room for three high-profile omissions. Alexander-Arnold, Foden and Palmer are the biggest absentees, and their absence is the clearest indication of where England’s manager has placed his trust for the World Cup.
England squad selection table
| Status | Player | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Included | Ivan Toney | BBC Sport reports England have called him up, making him one of the headline inclusions in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad. |
| Included | John Stones | BBC Sport reports he is in, alongside Toney, as one of the main selection calls in the confirmed squad. |
| Omitted | Trent Alexander-Arnold | BBC Sport reports there is no room for him, making him one of the headline omissions from England’s 2026 World Cup squad. |
| Omitted | Phil Foden | BBC Sport says he is not in the squad, another major omission from Tuchel’s selection. |
| Omitted | Cole Palmer | BBC Sport reports he is also out, completing the trio of high-profile absentees. |
England squad at a glance
This is the confirmed selection story rather than a full published 26-man list. The key calls are clear: Tuchel has included Ivan Toney and John Stones, and left out Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer.
That is the clearest read on his final tournament preferences from the confirmed reporting. England’s 2026 World Cup squad, as identified by Sky Sports and reported by BBC Sport, is being shaped by who has made the cut and who has not.
Why these five names dominate the announcement
Toney’s inclusion is the headline attacking call in the England squad for 2026 World Cup, while Stones’ return is the other major positive for Tuchel. Together, they show two experienced players getting the nod for the tournament.
The omissions are just as striking. Alexander-Arnold, Foden and Palmer are all out, and that makes the announcement feel defined by the balance Tuchel has chosen rather than any single surprise.
What the anthem rule changes on matchday
| Item | Confirmed detail | Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| Anthem rule | All 26 members of each squad will be on the pitch for the national anthems at the 2026 World Cup. | FIFA |
| England v New Zealand warm-up | England are in pre-World Cup warm-up action against New Zealand. | BBC Sport live blog |
| Friendlies update | England, Scotland and the USA are gearing up for friendlies. | BBC Sport live blog |
| Possible knockout route | England could face DR Congo, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina before Spain in the final if they go all the way. | Opta Analyst |
FIFA’s rule means every member of England’s 26-man squad will be out on the pitch for the anthems before kick-off, even if not every player is in the starting XI. That gives the full group a visible role on matchday from the very start.
As of June 6, 2026, England are in pre-World Cup warm-up action against New Zealand, with a live blog framing it as a World Cup 2026 warm-up. Another World Cup 2026 update says England, Scotland and the USA are gearing up for friendlies, and that timing matters because Tuchel’s squad calls land with match preparation already under way.
Opta Analyst’s projected route also shows the scale of the task if England go deep. The path could run through DR Congo, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina before a final against Spain.
England’s route context
That knockout picture is route context rather than a prediction, but it underlines the difficulty of the tournament ahead. For England, the immediate story remains the squad call itself: Toney and Stones in, Alexander-Arnold, Foden and Palmer out, with Tuchel’s choices now set against the backdrop of World Cup warm-up matches.