Trent Alexander-Arnold omitted from England's World Cup qualifiers squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold Excluded from England Squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been included in the England squad selected by Thomas Tuchel. The omission of the Real Madrid defender was among the most notable decisions by the coach, who has handed first-time call-ups to Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence.

Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish have also been left out for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Adam Wharton have returned to the squad, alongside Marc Guéhi, Tino Livramento, Jarrod Bowen, and John Stones.

In May, Tuchel cautioned Alexander-Arnold about maintaining greater defensive discipline, emphasizing that even a minor error at next summer's World Cup could prove costly. At the time, the coach reaffirmed his view of the player as a right-back, albeit an unconventional one, rather than a midfielder, when naming him for matches against Andorra and Senegal.

Alexander-Arnold featured as a second-half substitute against Andorra in Barcelona but remained unused in the game against Senegal. Since then, he has transferred from Liverpool to Real Madrid, appearing in both the Club World Cup and La Liga.

Anderson’s selection follows strong performances for the under-21s and excellent club form. The midfielder played a key role as Lee Carsley’s side secured the European Championship in June.

Tuchel observed Anderson in action last Sunday at Crystal Palace. The player joined his current club in July 2024 in a move influenced by his former team's financial considerations.

The 22-year-old has represented both Scotland and England at youth level and received his first senior call-up from Scotland in August 2023, though he later withdrew due to injury.

Spence’s adaptability is likely to have caught Tuchel's attention. The 25-year-old is capable of playing on either flank and has revived his career at Tottenham after loan spells at Leeds and Genoa during the 2023-24 season. The former Middlesbrough defender recently signed a new contract and has started both of his club’s league matches at left-back.

Rashford, recalled in March, missed the June fixtures through injury. Grealish contributed significantly in Everton’s recent match against Brighton, assisting both goals, but his efforts were not enough to earn a place. His last England appearance was under Carsley in October 2024.

Tuchel has also omitted Curtis Jones, Trevoh Chalobah, Ivan Toney, and Conor Gallagher. Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ben White are unavailable due to injuries.