Tuchel's Shock Decision: 66-Cap Harry Maguire Left Out of 2026 World Cup Squad — Manchester United Defender Speaks on Instagram: "I'm Shocked and Gutted"

One of English football's most extraordinary transfer and national team developments broke late Thursday evening. After the bombshell announced by talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs on X, the news that spread within hours through English media was that Harry Maguire would not be in the 2026 World Cup squad. With 66 international caps, 7 international goals, Euro 2020 final experience, and the central figure of Manchester United's recent comeback story, Maguire will not be on Thomas Tuchel's 26-man final list to be announced at Wembley Stadium on Friday morning. The decision was met with great surprise in the football world; especially after the vast majority of United fans and the English football public had thought otherwise.

Maguire himself confirmed the decision with an emotional message from his Instagram account. The 33-year-old defender wrote in his post: "I was confident I could of played a major part this summer for my country after the season I've had. I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I've loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer." These words were evaluated as an expression of the classic gentlemanly attitude that summarizes Maguire's player identity. According to reports from LBC and Sportskeeda, Maguire had been included in Tuchel's first national team squad in March 2026 and had made a comeback. Now the door has closed again.

Evaluating the decision from a football logic standpoint is also a discussed point. Maguire's Manchester United performance this season was visibly good. According to Sportbible, the 33-year-old defender was among Manchester United's "standout performers," becoming a stable figure at the heart of the defense in the second half of the season. A United fan wrote on social media: "Unbelievable, I thought Harry was an absolute shoe-in, and what a season he had!" The reason for Tuchel's preference for Maguire, who was seen as a strong scenario to be included in the national team during the same period, is that Manchester United playing with three defenders (back-three) complicated Maguire's compatibility in Tuchel's 4-3-3 system. This is a reservation the German manager had previously expressed.

The list of candidates who will or could replace Maguire has further heated the national team debate. According to Football365 and talkSPORT, the 23-year-old Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has a strong chance of receiving a surprise call-up. Colwill was off the pitches for about 10 months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in August 2025, returned to the pitches this month, and had only played 3 matches in a Chelsea shirt this season. Tuchel had kept Colwill in the 33-man preliminary list he announced last month, and it was reported that he was "strongly considering" including the young player in the final squad after he proved his fitness. Sportbible's report confirms this: "Tuchel is strongly considering giving Colwill an opportunity."

Maguire's exclusion is not a story on its own; it is also a symbol of generational change. According to Tribuna.com and Football365, Kobbie Mainoo is expected to make the 26-man squad. This is an extraordinary comeback story for the 21-year-old midfielder: Mainoo, who was considered a fringe player at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, returned to shine both at the club and on the national team radar with critical performances in the second half of the season. The news that Kobbie Mainoo had also "verbally" agreed to a new 5-year contract with Manchester United was simultaneously reported. In the same national team squad, the new Real Madrid signing Trent Alexander-Arnold could also feature; according to Sportbible, he was in Tuchel's preliminary list.

The pain of the decision is compounded by a series of events that shaped Maguire's national team career. Before the 2024 Euros, he was also not included in the squad due to a calf injury, saying "I am devastated." This will be the second time he has missed a major tournament. Maguire, who played all 120 minutes of the Euro 2020 final, was on the field during England's dramatic loss to Italy. He then went to the quarterfinal at the 2022 World Cup with the Three Lions under Gareth Southgate's management. During the Tuchel era, the moment of inclusion in the squad evaluated as a comeback in March 2026 turned into the expected closure. Tuchel's earlier statement seemed to foreshadow this situation: "He is a top guy and he will always be in contention." Now "being in contention" was not enough.

One of the contradictions about the announcement is that the squad's official publication is the next day. England's squad will be officially announced on Friday morning, May 22, at a special event to be held at Wembley Stadium. Tuchel personally informed Maguire of his decision by phone — this is in line with the method of the Bavarian-born German coach. It was stated that other candidates Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were experiencing stability problems at club level, while Morgan Gibbs-White had scored 11 goals at Nottingham Forest since the start of the year. Ben White's medial knee ligament injury, Tino Livramento's fitness problems, Trent Alexander-Arnold's being overlooked by Tuchel in the past — there are many factors in the background of the squad selection.

A wave of support for Maguire was experienced in English media. Sportbible's evaluations of the exclusion show the surprise of Manchester United legends and journalists at Maguire's decision. One journalist made the comment: "Maguire is one of the biggest comeback stories of this season. His character, experience, and role in the team should have been valuable for the national team." It was reported that Maguire spoke personally with the Manchester United Performance Director and focused on the goal of "playing more matches once Carrick officially starts" in the managerial role. The World Cup will begin on June 11, 2026, in the USA-Canada-Mexico. England's group hasn't been finalized yet, but the Three Lions will go to the tournament as one of the world's most favorite teams — this time without the holder of 66 international caps. Whether this is the end of Maguire's national team career remains uncertain: Tuchel's message that he "will always be in contention" doesn't completely close the door.