Maguire reveals 'awkward' Tuchel FaceTime after England World Cup squad snub at 33

Harry Maguire has opened up on a tense FaceTime call with England manager Thomas Tuchel after being omitted from the Three Lions’ 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, saying the German coach admitted he could not give him a proper excuse for the decision.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the Manchester United centre-back described the experience of being informed by video call — a method Tuchel apparently uses for all omitted players. “He FaceTimes everyone,” Maguire said. “It’s quite an awkward call.”

Adding to his frustration, Maguire revealed that reports casting doubt on his place had appeared in the media roughly half an hour before Tuchel contacted him directly. “Something got released in the media about half an hour before I got told that my place was in doubt. That was the most frustrating thing.”

Maguire had made his feelings public on social media shortly after the squad was announced, writing that he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision and that he had been “confident” he could have played a major part. Tuchel later said he was “a bit surprised” by the post, given that the pair had already spoken privately.

In the podcast, Maguire insisted his form at United warranted inclusion. “I thought I did enough to be in the squad. And I thought I could have helped the lads out there — on the pitch and off it as well.” He stressed he was not pushing to start games, adding: “I’d have been happy to play one minute, as long as I was there with the lads.”

The 33-year-old also acknowledged the longer-term significance of the call. “I’m 33 now, so 37 at the next World Cup,” he said, underlining why this particular tournament felt so important to him.

On the conversation itself, Maguire said Tuchel pointed to the four centre-backs who had featured prominently during England’s autumn qualifying campaign as the primary reason for his exclusion, but conceded the explanation was incomplete. “He really said that he can’t really give me an excuse. But listen, that’s football. It was tough to take.”