England’s Tuchel open to calling up Max Dowman at 16: Who’s the youngest ever to play at a World Cup?

London – England head coach Thomas Tuchel has refused to rule out fast-tracking Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman into the senior squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a move that would shatter the tournament’s age record.

Speaking after Friday’s squad announcement for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, Tuchel told reporters that the 16-year-old attacker is already on his long-range radar.

“He’s a fantastic talent,” the German coach said, referencing Fabrizio Romano’s report on X. “We still have a chance to call him for the World Cup.”

Dowman, who last weekend became the youngest goal-scorer in Premier League history during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton, was left out of the current camp because he is not yet a regular starter for Mikel Arteta’s side.

“At the moment he competes for minutes so he’s not a regular starter for Arsenal,” Tuchel explained. “He is in the best environment possible, he has to keep going. No need to call him up now and increase the pressure.”

Should Tuchel reverse course and include Dowman in England’s final 26-man roster for North America 2026, the midfielder would be 16 years and 169 days old when the Three Lions open Group-stage play against Croatia on June 17. That would eclipse the existing World Cup age record held by Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside, who was 17 years and 41 days when he faced Yugoslavia at Spain 1982. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o (17-99, 1998) and Nigeria’s Femi Opabunmi (17-101, 2002) round out the current podium.

While Dowman’s potential leap to the global stage dominates headlines, Tuchel’s March selections generated their own talking points. Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was omitted despite strong recent form for Real Madrid, with Tuchel opting to retain Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah at the position. Jude Bellingham returns after injury, joined by Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo and Manchester City centre-back John Stones.

England will face Uruguay at Wembley on 22 March and Japan four days later as Tuchel uses the final international window before the summer tournament to refine his tactical blueprint.