Some experienced players are missing the 2026 World Cup, which is the case of Luke Shaw as the left back is not part of England. There are some important players missing the 2026 World Cup, with Luke Shaw among them as he was left out of England’s squad. Shaw is missing the competition because he was not called up by Thomas Tuchel. The manager surprised many people with some of his decisions, including leaving out the left back for reasons other than injury. This omission caught much attention because Shaw was part of Manchester United’s improvement that pushed them to third place in the Premier League after mediocre years. Even so, it was not enough to convince the manager. Shaw’s season with Manchester United Experience could be a huge factor for every team, which makes Shaw’s omission even more unexpected. The left back has featured regularly for England in the past few years under Gareth Southgate, even scoring in the Euro final lost to Italy on penalties. Tuchel left many important players out of the team (Richard Pelham/Getty Images) The manager’s preferred skill set apparently favors bigger players that may suit the system more favorably, which does not benefit a player with Shaw’s physical build. Shaw was an important piece for Michael Carrick after his January appointment, which brought the club back on track. The left back left behind some injury issues from the past and played all 38 Premier League matches, showing that this was a technical choice rather than a fitness one. The left backs Tuchel preferred taller left backs for this competition. The left back role may not be secured between a rising player like Nico O’Reilly, a strong attacking option, and a right-footed physical fullback like Djed Spence, while Tino Livramento was the versatile option who could play on either side before an injury ruled him out.
On the list of great players missing the 2026 World Cup is Cole Palmer, who wasn't called by England for this competition. The list of talented players who will not be part of the 2026 World Cup always includes some big names. A clear example this time is England, where Cole Palmer has been left out of the squad. Palmer is missing the competition because Thomas Tuchel did not call him up. The decision, which surprised many, was not due to a sudden injury, but rather a tactical choice based on form and fitness. After a difficult season with Chelsea, Palmer went through a dip in form and some lingering fitness issues. Tuchel ultimately decided that the midfielder was not sharp enough for a tournament of this level and left him out of the final squad. Palmer’s season with Chelsea It was a frustrating season for Palmer. After a brilliant first year at Chelsea, where he scored 25 goals in 45 matches, the creative midfielder was more inconsistent, just as the club was too in the next two years there. Palmer did not play at his best this year (Stu Forster/Getty Images) With Chelsea struggling for consistency and finishing the Premier League season in 10th place, Palmer was unable to repeat his previous heroics. He still managed 10 goals in 26 league appearances, but he lacked his usual clinical edge in the final months of the campaign. Even though Palmer proved to be important for England at Euro 2024, with an assist for Ollie Watkins in the semifinal against the Netherlands and a goal in the final against Spain under Gareth Southgate, Tuchel did not value that experience enough. The midfielders Tuchel preferred players with more pace than a possession-based midfielder like Palmer. The midfielders chosen by Tuchel were Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze.
