Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is yet to play a single minute for England in the 2026 World Cup this summer.
Kobbie Mainoo’s resurgence at Manchester United in the second half of the 2025/26 season was enough to earn him a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for the World Cup.
But after England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16, Mainoo is still yet to see a minute of action for the Three Lions.
So far, Kobbie Mainoo has been behind Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson in the pecking order, while even Jordan Henderson got minutes in the group stage ahead of him. But that could all be about to change.
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…
Kobbie Mainoo can step up to solve England midfield issues
Ahead of the Mexico match, a lot was said about the altitude at the Azteca Stadium and how physically taxing it would be for England.
The match went over 100 minutes, and Rice played the entire match for England. According to BBC Sport, Rice has been playing with a neural problem that affects his hamstring and lower back.
Like the majority of the England squad at full-time, Rice looked completely drained after the victory. During the celebrations, Henderson suffered a serious injury to his wrist that could end his tournament early.
All of a sudden, Tuchel’s options in midfield are looking thin, yet Mainoo is fresh, hungry and raring to go.
Mainoo was exceptional at Euro 2024 and even started for England in the final after a brilliant breakthrough tournament. He has experience in knockout matches and can still play a huge role in England’s World Cup campaign this summer.
So far, it has been a frustrating watch for United fans hoping to see Mainoo in action. But as England’s hectic schedule takes its toll on the squad, there is a golden opportunity for Mainoo to make an impact.
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England’s run to the 2026 World Cup final
United duo Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were both kept on the bench for the victory over Mexico, so they will both be fresh to face Norway in the quarter-finals.
England face Norway on Saturday night (10pm BST), meaning the Three Lions stars who faced Mexico will only have five days of rest.
Mainoo and Rashford could both feature against Norway. If England progress to the semi-finals, they could face either Switzerland, Colombia, Argentina or Egypt.
READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand is dead wrong with latest Kobbie Mainoo analysis, he is missing key context
The semi-final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 15 July at 8pm BST.
The World Cup final is set to kick off on 19 July at 8pm BST.
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