One of the biggest shocks concerning any Manchester United player going into the World Cup was Harry Maguire’s omission from the England squad.
The 2026 World Cup is underway, and England’s opening game against Croatia is on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel included just two Manchester United players in his 26-man squad – Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford – as he left out the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount.
Perhaps the least surprising of the three omissions was Mount, given he started just 12 games in the Premier League this past season. Maguire felt aggrieved by the decision, but Shaw has remained silent on his omission.
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Harry Maguire opens up on frustrating World Cup omission
Having finished a solid domestic campaign for United, Maguire expected a call-up following two impressive displays under Tuchel during the March international break.
Tuchel opted to bring five centre-backs ahead of him: John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, and Dan Burn.
Missing out on the World Cup this summer will raise questions over Maguire’s future in an England shirt, but the 33-year-old has not yet been able to get over the frustration of missing out.
On the latest episode of The Rest is Football on Netflix, Maguire speaks about finding out about his omission an hour early due to media leaks.
“I saw that, and I was thinking, two years before it happened again when it was at the Euros squad because I got left out of that squad because I was injured from a calf,” Maguire said.
“But it was touch and go whether or not I was going to get picked there.
“And then a couple of hours before, we got told then it got leaked out that Harry’s gonna miss it through, through a calf injury. So this one again, that was the most frustrating thing.
“And then straight after the call, I, I knew straight away that all the media knew that I wasn’t in the squad.”
It’s a huge blow for Maguire, but one he can get over by starting the upcoming season strongly at United.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Harry Maguire opens up on his frustrating England omission for the 2026 World Cup
- The Manchester United defender found out an hour early after media leaks
- Maguire experienced the same two years ago at the Euros when he was left out due to injury
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England will miss Harry Maguire’s World Cup experience
In 2018, Maguire started every game for England at the World Cup in Russia.
The Three Lions reached their first semi-final since 1990 as he scored one goal and registered one assist.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Maguire also started every game for England, but they only reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France.
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