Ola Aina Backs Snubbed Nottingham Forest Teammate Morgan Gibbs-White After Tuchel’s England World Cup Omission

Nottingham Forest and Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has voiced his support for teammate Morgan Gibbs-White after the 26-year-old was left out of England’s final FIFA World Cup squad. Reacting to the omission, Aina wrote: “I’ll pay for the flight to get you over there! Fantastic season from you, my boy!”

Gibbs-White’s exclusion has drawn widespread attention given the scale of his contribution during the 2025/26 domestic campaign. The attacking midfielder finished the season with 18 goals across all competitions — a career-best tally — including 14 in the Premier League, bringing his combined goal involvements to 25. Those numbers proved instrumental in steering Nottingham Forest away from relegation danger and into the Europa League semi-finals.

Despite those figures placing him among the more productive attacking midfielders in European football this season, Gibbs-White — who holds six senior caps for England — was informed of his exclusion directly via a phone call from Tuchel. The German coach has since faced significant criticism from sections of the English football media, with many questioning whether his tactical preferences were prioritised over form.

Gibbs-White is not alone among the notable absentees from Tuchel’s squad. The final 26-man roster also omits Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, and Lewis Hall — a cluster of exclusions that has amplified scrutiny of the selection process ahead of the tournament.

Aina’s reaction reflects a broader sentiment within the footballing community regarding Gibbs-White’s omission. The Nigerian defender, who has been a regular fixture for Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles, did not address the wider selection debate but made his personal support for his club colleague clear.

For Gibbs-White, the decision represents a significant setback at what has been the most productive domestic season of his career to date. Having come through the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy before joining Nottingham Forest, the midfielder has developed into one of the club’s most important players under a series of managers at the City Ground.

England’s World Cup campaign will proceed without several high-profile names, and Tuchel’s squad selections are likely to remain a topic of discussion as the tournament approaches. For Aina, focus will return to international duty with Nigeria, where the Super Eagles continue preparations of their own.