England head coach Thomas Tuchel has publicly stated that Manchester United defender Harry Maguire ranks as his fifth-choice centre-back, delivering a significant setback to the experienced international’s hopes of securing a place in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Speaking after England’s recent international fixture, Tuchel was candid about his defensive hierarchy. He confirmed that Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace/Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah currently recovering from injury are all ahead of the 33-year-old Maguire in the pecking order.
“I haven’t changed my mind but I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile,” Tuchel said. “I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guéhi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevor Chalobah on the level of mobility was slightly ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries, so he needed to come to camp.”
Tuchel acknowledged Maguire’s leadership qualities, vast experience (65 caps and appearances at three major tournaments), and recent strong performances for Manchester United, describing him as having “credit in the bank” and even labelling him “world class” in certain aspects. However, the German coach emphasised a preference for defenders who offer greater mobility and a different tactical profile.
Maguire was recalled to the England squad earlier this month for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan his first call-up in over a year as a reward for his resurgence at club level under interim manager Michael Carrick, with Manchester United currently performing strongly in the Premier League.
He featured in the recent match and delivered an assured display. Despite this, Tuchel’s comments suggest Maguire faces an uphill battle to make the final 23- or 25-man squad for the World Cup, which begins in June 2026.
The remarks come as Tuchel continues to assess his options ahead of the tournament. Centre-back depth has been a key area of focus, with injuries and form influencing selections throughout the campaign.