Alexander-Arnold and Palmer return to England squad as Tuchel leaves Foden out again

Thomas Tuchel has unveiled his 28-man England squad for the national team's first matches since the World Cup, and the headline is the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer. Both were high-profile absentees from the group that travelled to the United States in the summer. They come back into the fold for a three-week international window in which England will play their opening four games of the new Nations League campaign, starting with a home clash against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday 26 September.

• Alexander-Arnold and Palmer return after missing the World Cup for different reasons: the full-back over defensive concerns and the forward after an injury-hit season.
• Palmer has started the campaign with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea in sharp form, scoring four and assisting two in six games.
• Phil Foden is left out again after a red card in the Manchester derby and no goals so far in 2026.
• Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and 18-year-old Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha earn their first senior call-ups.
• England play Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia between 26 September and 6 October.

Why Tuchel has brought Alexander-Arnold and Palmer back

Cole Palmer's return is the most straightforward call of the squad. The Chelsea attacker missed the World Cup after a 2025/26 season disrupted by fitness issues and a clear drop in output. That decision from Tuchel caused plenty of debate at the time, but Palmer has responded on the pitch. Under Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge, he has begun the new season in fine touch, with four goals and two assists in six appearances as part of a productive front three alongside Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro. That form earns him a place in an attacking group that also includes Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze, arguably the most talent-rich area of the current England setup.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's recall is a more nuanced decision. The former Liverpool full-back, who had played only once under Tuchel before this squad, was overlooked for the World Cup amid long-standing questions about his defensive profile. His absence was widely read as a preference for more conservative options at right-back. But the German coach has opened the door again for a Nations League phase where his passing range and delivery from wide areas could be valuable assets.

Phil Foden and Harry Maguire remain on the outside

The squad confirms that Phil Foden's wait goes on. The Manchester City midfielder, another major World Cup omission, has not done enough to force his way back in. His season has been slow to get going: he is still without a goal in 2026 and was sent off in the last Manchester derby, an image that sums up his current moment. Competition for places in the attacking midfield positions is also relentless.

Harry Maguire also remains out in the cold. The Manchester United defender spoke openly about his disappointment at missing the World Cup, but Tuchel has not changed his stance. Kobbie Mainoo does keep his place despite a poor start to the season for his club. The young midfielder had a strange summer: he was the only member of the World Cup squad not to play a single minute, with injury ruling him out when his best chance arrived in the third-place play-off against France. He is back in the plans now, as is Marcus Rashford, included among the wide options.

New faces: Scott and Ngumoha step up

The squad also introduces fresh faces at senior level. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Liverpool's 18-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha receive their first call-ups. Neither is unfamiliar to the coaching staff: both were part of the support group that travelled to the United States to assist England during their World Cup preparations. Now they make the full step into an official senior squad.

Ngumoha is likely to attract the most attention. Barely established at the top level, he finds himself in a squad packed with attacking quality. His inclusion underlines that Tuchel is willing to look at youth when performances justify it, even in a position where England already have depth.

Injury absentees and technical omissions

As many as nine players from the initial World Cup group do not return. Some are technical decisions, including Noni Madueke and the Saudi-based pair of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, both now playing in the Saudi Pro League. Others miss out through injury, a list that has hit hard at the start of the season. Reece James is unavailable after picking up a problem that kept him out of Chelsea training this week. John Stones, Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson and Djed Spence are also ruled out for fitness reasons. Spence, the former Tottenham full-back who joined Inter Milan, has yet to make an appearance for his new club while he builds up his conditioning.

England's Nations League fixtures

England open this new chapter with a notably long three-week international window across late September and early October. The standout test comes immediately: world champions Spain visit Wembley on Saturday 26 September. It will be England's first match at the stadium since the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, a memory that still stings.

• Saturday 26 September: England vs Spain at Wembley
• Tuesday 29 September: Czech Republic vs England
• Sunday 4 October: Croatia vs England
• Tuesday 6 October: England vs Czech Republic at Wembley

The block ends with Czech Republic visiting London, a home fixture that closes the window before the Nations League reaches its decisive stages later in the year.