Roy Keane Says Harry Maguire’s England World Cup Snub Is ‘On You’ Ahead of 2026 Tournament

Harry Maguire is among the most high-profile absentees from Thomas Tuchel’s final England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes the centre-back has only himself to hold accountable for missing out.

Speaking ahead of England’s friendly against New Zealand, Keane addressed the recurring debate surrounding players who fail to make international squads. “Every time we do an England game, we speak a lot about players who have been left out or in terms of the squad are left out of the starting XI,” he said. “But I think if you can’t get into a squad of 26, that’s on you. That is on the player, you’ve not done enough to convince that manager.”

The former midfielder was equally unambiguous on the subject of public sympathy for omitted players. “There will always be uproar with England for players that are left out if they play for certain clubs, but that’s on you. If you can’t make a squad of 26, that’s on you, don’t blame anyone else,” Keane added.

Maguire, according to reports, featured in Tuchel’s provisional 55-man longlist but did not survive the final selection process. Tuchel ultimately opted for Newcastle United’s Dan Burn and Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah to fill the available central defensive slots. Maguire was not the only prominent name left out — Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Gibbs-White were also absent from the final 26.

England opened their pre-tournament preparations with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand, and a further friendly against Costa Rica is scheduled before competitive action begins. Tuchel’s side will kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in nine days, with Ghana and Panama also in Group D.

Maguire’s exclusion is particularly notable given his historical significance to England’s defensive setup. The 33-year-old has been a regular fixture in the national squad for several years and captained the side on multiple occasions. However, his club form at Manchester United has been inconsistent in recent seasons, a factor that appears to have weighed on Tuchel’s decision-making.

Keane’s comments arrive in the context of his own ongoing outspokenness regarding current Manchester United players. The former captain has been publicly critical of several members of the United squad in recent months, exchanges that have drawn responses from figures including Bruno Fernandes.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first edition to feature an expanded 48-team format — squad selection decisions across all competing nations have drawn heightened scrutiny. For England, the debate over Maguire and others reflects the depth of options available to Tuchel, even as questions persist over the final composition of his defensive unit.