leaked Tuchel – England supporters erupted after a leaked Thomas Tuchel World Cup squad suggested Harry Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were left out, with further expected exclusions for players including Lewis Hall and Morgan Gibbs-White. Tuchel is set to confirm the 26
For many England fans, the outrage didn’t wait for a microphone at Wembley.
Thomas Tuchel is set to front the media today at Wembley Stadium and confirm the 26 players he believes can deliver the nation’s first World Cup in 60 years in the tournament in the United States. But the process has already been hit by chaos: decisions reportedly linked to his squad leaked on Thursday night.
Harry Maguire quickly became the central flashpoint. The defender confirmed he had been overlooked despite finishing the season strongly with Manchester United. The reaction wasn’t limited to a few angry posts. Zoe Maguire, Harry Maguire’s mother, took to X to say she was “absolutely disgusted” by Tuchel’s snub. Maguire’s brothers also shared their fury on social media.
Supporters are also bracing for several other controversial omissions that Tuchel is expected to confirm today. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. along with Lewis Hall. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Morgan Gibbs-White. are understood to have been left at home. For fans. the inclusion arguments are emotional and blunt: Foden and Palmer have delivered in England shirts in previous major tournaments. but this campaign’s form has been used to justify their exclusion. Gibbs-White. meanwhile. has arguably been England’s best attacking option in his position at club level. scoring 17 goals and providing seven assists for his club.
Tuchel’s expected choices have drawn an unusually wide wave of anger. with fans flooding social media and treating the leaked squad like a fight on behalf of their own judgment. Tom Garratt wrote on X: “No Lewis Hall is borderline treason. ” adding: “Can the king not step in?” Rory Jennings said: “When you actually think about it. it’s a disgrace that Thomas Tuchel is England manager. a national embarrassment.” One user posted that Tuchel “has somehow managed to unite the entire English fanbase against. quite impressive actually. ” while another wrote: “Tuchel has lost his mind. ” followed by: “What on earth.”.
Some supporters sharpened the criticism by pointing to specific team selection decisions. @Ellis_ added: “Gibbs-White has been the best English attacking midfielder this season and he’s also been left out of the squad.” Another fan questioned the entire decision-making process. asking: “Was Tuchel and the English coaching staff drunk when they made the squad selection or what?”.
As the wider debate raged, the leak also triggered parody and mockery. One user posted: “This Thomas Tuchel England line up” alongside a picture of an underwhelming selection of beers on draught at a pub.
Tuchel’s full squad announcement is due this morning, with live coverage on Daily Mail Sport from 8.30am. Ian Ladyman and Jack Gaughan are expected to discuss what they’ve heard from the Three Lions camp and respond to comments in a live blog tied to the England squad announcement.
The leaked expectations have also spilled into fan voting on which players they want in the 26-man squad. Daily Mail Sport readers shared their preferred lists as England look to win this summer’s World Cup.
In those fan selections, Maguire was picked by 72.9 per cent of readers in their squads, the 14th most selected player. Foden was 16th, chosen by 71.5 per cent. Gibbs-White was included in 70.5 per cent of squads, while Palmer featured in 65.9 per cent.
On goalkeepers, fans opted for Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and Nick Pope as England’s three for the tournament. Pickford remained the clear No 1, with 97.7 per cent choosing him in their squads—making him the third most selected player.
For defenders, fans selected Maguire as one of England’s centre backs alongside Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and John Stones. Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold were chosen as right backs. Nico O’Reilly and Lewis Hall were picked as left backs after enjoying impressive seasons for Man City and Newcastle.
Even within the fan debate around selection, the Trent Alexander-Arnold decision has been treated as a specific sticking point. The leak-and-selection discussion pointed to Tuchel seemingly overlooking him for the tournament. despite Alexander-Arnold having a single substitute appearance against Andorra for Tuchel. In the fan squads, Alexander-Arnold was still selected by 67 per cent of readers.
In midfield, fans chose Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Foden and Gibbs-White to battle for places. Rice was chosen by 98 per cent of readers, the second most selected England player in the squad.
The captain’s place drew even stronger support: Harry Kane was chosen 98.8 per cent of the time as he prepares to lead the line at the World Cup.
In attack, fans put their faith in Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins, Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen. Those fan squads, however, did not include Arsenal’s Noni Madueke or Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite Arsenal’s title triumph.
Tuchel is expected to confirm the final 26-man squad today. For now. the picture from the stands—and from the Maguire household in particular—is loud: the leaked selections have turned a routine team announcement into a test of trust. with Wembley’s microphones waiting to decide how far the pressure spreads before the squad is officially set.
England Thomas Tuchel World Cup squad Harry Maguire Phil Foden Cole Palmer Lewis Hall Trent Alexander-Arnold Morgan Gibbs-White Daily Mail Sport Jordan Pickford Declan Rice