Best England XI Who WON’T Be At The 2026 World Cup

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Thomas Tuchel is already trimming a bloated England talent pool down to the 26 names he will trust in North America. For every headline-catcher who boards the plane, a handful of worthy candidates will be left behind. Here is a full-strength England XI—lining up in a 4-3-3—of players who, for reasons of age, depth or sheer bad luck, look set to watch the tournament from home.

Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale Once Arsenal’s undisputed No. 1, Ramsdale lost his jersey to David Raya and has never reclaimed the spotlight. Still rated as England’s fourth-choice keeper, the 26-year-old would need a late injury to Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson or the in-form Gavin Bazunu to squeeze into Tuchel’s luggage.

Right-back: Kyle Walker A sprint champion turned defensive rock, Walker’s pace has underpinned a decade of England success. At 33, however, the Manchester City captain is now viewed as a squad option rather than a starter, and Tuchel is expected to back younger, fresher legs.

Centre-back: James Tarkowski Everton’s organiser has been a model of consistency for Burnley and now the Toffees, yet a single cap in 2018 tells its own story. Heading into the summer at 33, Tarkowski remains behind Harry Maguire, John Stones, Marc Guéhi and several emerging talents.

Centre-back: James Hill Bournemouth’s 22-year-old has blossomed alongside Marcos Senesi, but with only a season-and-a-half of top-flight football on his CV, Hill is likely to be told to keep developing for 2030 rather than force his way in now.

Left-back: Tyrick Mitchell Crystal Palace’s energetic wing-back has improved both ends of his game, yet Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell and Rico Henry continue to block his path. Mitchell’s versatility may earn him a standby call, not a seat on the jet.

Central midfield: Lewis Miley Newcastle’s teenage prodigy has shone even amid Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, but at 19 he is viewed as one for the future. England’s engine room is stacked, and Tuchel is expected to favour proven World Cup-ready bodies.

Central midfield: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Everton’s relentless runner has produced numbers from both central and advanced roles this season, yet the queue of English midfielders is endless. Dewsbury-Hall’s misfortune is to peak at the same time as Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Curtis Jones.

Right wing: Jacob Murphy An old-school touchline winger with a wicked delivery, Murphy has never earned an England cap. At 29, this was probably his last realistic ticket to a major tournament; Tuchel is tipped to gamble on youth instead.

Attacking midfield: James Maddison Before an ACL rupture wiped out his 2025-26 campaign, Maddison was inked into most pundits’ starting XIs. Rehabilitation timelines remain murky, and Tuchel cannot risk a half-fit creator when trophies, not sentiment, are at stake.

Left wing: Jaidon Anthony Burnley’s surprise package has hit seven goals and laid on three more, but relegation form and a stacked left-flank queue—Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish—mean Anthony’s breakout year will end in front of a television.

Centre-forward: Danny Welbeck Ten Premier League goals for Brighton at 35 have reignited a career many thought finished. Welbeck’s experience and link play are tempting, yet Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney sit firmly above him in the striker pyramid.

Honourable mentions Several other names hover on the fringes—Fulham’s 31-year-old defender Tosin Adarabioyo, Chelsea’s forgotten midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and West Ham’s perennial nearly-man Michail Antonio—but the depth of English talent means dreams will be dashed across every position.

For Tuchel, the headache is a pleasant one: how to leave quality footballers at home while still assembling a squad capable of ending 60 years of hurt. For the 11 above, the mission is simpler: use the disappointment as fuel for a final push toward 2030.