World Cup 2026: ‘Had most impressive season’ – Kyle Walker slams Tuchel over three major omissions

Former England defender, Kyle Walker has expressed his concerns regarding Thomas Tuchel’s choice to exclude three significant players from the FIFA World Cup roster.

He asserts that Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Morgan Gibbs-White ought to have been included in the squad traveling to the United States this summer.

In an interview with The Sun, Walker remarked that Tuchel’s selection process appears somewhat perplexing, as it omits several top performers.

He specifically highlighted Manchester United players Maguire and Shaw as key individuals who deserved a spot on the team, stating, “Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have likely had the most impressive seasons for Manchester United in quite some time, yet they are not participating in the tournament. I firmly believe that Luke Shaw should have been on the plane, and I also think Harry Maguire should have been included.”

Walker further expressed that his primary worry for England this summer lies within the defense. He is uncertain whether all the selected defenders can maintain their fitness and commented:

He said, “The defense… I believe there are several players who may not have performed exceptionally well or are dealing with injuries, raising doubts about whether they can be fully relied upon throughout the tournament. This is where I have reservations about some of them, but ultimately, I am not the manager.”

The Burnley player also mentioned Gibbs-White as another unexpected omission from the squad, adding, “I likely would have included Morgan Gibbs-White. He has been outstanding for Forest.”

In addition to this trio, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer have also been left out of England’s FIFA World Cup squad.