Kyle Walker Questions Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup Squad, Backs Maguire, Shaw and Gibbs-White for Inclusion

Kyle Walker, the former England international and veteran of multiple major tournaments, has raised doubts about the defensive reliability of Thomas Tuchel‘s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, while arguing that at least three players were wrongly left out of the final selection.

Speaking at a World Cup preview event hosted by The Sun, Walker — who earned his caps with both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur — expressed surprise at the omission of Manchester United‘s Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, as well as Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

“Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have probably had the best seasons for Manchester United in a long time and are now not at the tournament,” Walker said. “I do think Luke Shaw, for me, should have been on the plane and I do think Harry Maguire should have been on the plane.”

Maguire’s exclusion has drawn considerable attention given his standing in the England setup over the past decade. The centre-back made 25 appearances for Manchester United during the 2025-26 season and was reportedly “shocked and gutted” upon learning he had not been selected. Walker backed his former international teammate, suggesting both Maguire and Shaw had done enough to merit a place in the squad.

Beyond the two United players, Walker made a strong case for Gibbs-White, who produced one of the standout individual campaigns in the Premier League this season, scoring 18 goals for Nottingham Forest. “I probably would have taken Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s been fantastic for Forest,” Walker stated. Gibbs-White himself has spoken openly about his disappointment at missing out, suggesting he may have “got on the wrong side of someone’s opinion.”

Walker also directed scrutiny at the defensive options Tuchel has opted for, questioning the physical condition and recent form of several selected players. “The defence… I do think there’s a lot there that have probably not played too great or who are carrying injuries that, can you completely rely on for the stretch of the tournament?” he said. “That’s where I probably question some of them, but I’m not the manager.”

The caveat was notable — Walker was careful to acknowledge the limits of his perspective, stopping short of a direct criticism of the head coach. Tuchel, who took charge of England in January 2024, has previously spoken about the need to make difficult decisions in tournament selection, and has publicly addressed the omission of Phil Foden, stating he was uncertain about the Manchester City forward’s best position within his system.

England’s 2026 World Cup campaign is set to begin in the group stage of the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The squad’s defensive depth will be closely scrutinised throughout the competition, particularly given the injury concerns Walker referenced. Should any of the selected defenders fail to remain fit, the decisions to leave out experienced internationals like Maguire and Shaw could face renewed examination.