Tuchel drops Maguire from England's World Cup squad in favour of Guehi and Konsa

Thomas Tuchel has cut Harry Maguire from England’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, leaving the Manchester United defender — who described himself as ‘shocked and gutted’ — out of a major tournament for the first time since 2018. The 33-year-old believed his club form had been convincing enough to earn a place in the party heading to North America.

Maguire learned of the decision through a FaceTime call arranged by Tuchel, who had sent players a text message in advance asking whether they were free to speak at 4pm. The format — personal but abrupt — did little to soften the blow for a player who had been included in England’s March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, completing 90 minutes against Uruguay before coming on as a substitute against Japan.

Tuchel’s reasoning centres on his desire to build a more dynamic and mobile defensive unit with long-term potential. The Germany-born coach is understood to favour a starting centre-back partnership of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, both of whom offer the tactical flexibility his system demands and are considerably younger than Maguire.

Age was a significant factor in the call. At 33, Maguire would be 37 by the time the 2030 World Cup arrives, making him a poor fit for a squad Tuchel is consciously reshaping around younger players. Despite a solid end to the Premier League season under Michael Carrick at United, Maguire could not displace a generation of centre-backs who have pushed their way to the front of the queue with consistent club performances.

Maguire took to social media after the announcement to express his disappointment, saying he firmly believed he could have contributed meaningfully to England’s campaign this summer. His omission marks a significant moment in the generational transition Tuchel is engineering within the national squad ahead of a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.