Kobbie Mainoo has not played a minute of football at the World Cup, and Paul Scholes is not expecting that to change ahead of England’s last 16 tie against Mexico.
While England have progressed to the last 16, there has been little to sing about – on an individual note at least – for Kobbie Mainoo.
The Manchester United midfield ace, who starred in Michael Carrick’s team throughout the second half of the 2025/26 season to help secure Champions League football, has been overlooked by Thomas Tuchel since the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Not just as a starter but also as a substitute.
What is your message to Kobbie Mainoo after Thomas Tuchel overlooked him for England again?
Mainoo has played 0 minutes in England's opening four games…
Paul Scholes says it wouldn’t be ‘fair’ to play Kobbie Mainoo against Mexico
Former United midfielder Paul Scholes has argued it would not be ‘fair’ to play Mainoo in England’s last-16 clash at the Azteca Stadium.
Speaking on the latest The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes said: “There’s no way he’s going to play Kobbie. He won’t play Kobbie Mainoo. No chance.”
When asked why Tuchel bothered to take Mainoo to the World Cup if he wasn’t planning to play him, Scholes added: “I don’t know.
“And do you know what, it’s probably the wrong thing to do on Kobbie now. He’s been there for three weeks, four weeks, whatever it is, not played a game, all of a sudden he’s got to come in.
“It’s probably not fair on Kobbie if he comes in there.”
Tuchel’s starters in central midfield are Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Still, when the former was injured for England’s final group game against Panama, Tuchel brought United target Morgan Rogers into the team and Jordan Henderson was preferred to come on from the bench.
It now looks even more unlikely that the United academy graduate will feature in the next knockout fixture against Mexico.
Mexico host England on Monday at 1am.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Kobbie Mainoo has yet to play at the 2026 World Cup for England
- Paul Scholes doesn’t believe Mainoo will play against Mexico
- Thomas Tuchel has brought Jordan Henderson on from the bench ahead of Mainoo
Which World Cup talent do you want Man United to target this summer?⚡️
Some real standout performers already, but have any convinced you that they should be United targets?
Thomas Tuchel is ignoring Kobbie Mainoo’s experience
At the age of 21, Mainoo has a wealth of experience under his belt.
The FA Cup winner played for England in the Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, in what was his first major international tournament.
It was the first time that two teenagers featured in a final of a European Championship or World Cup because Mainoo started for England, and Lamine Yamal was in the Spain line-up.
Mainoo was aged 19 years and 86 days for the Euro 2024 final, but Tuchel has treated him like a rookie on the international stage at this tournament.
It’s borderline embarrassing for Tuchel, especially when he is bringing Henderson on in games ahead of Mainoo.
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