Mainoo and Maguire Back in England Squad as Tuchel Rings Changes for Final World Cup Warm-Up

The England head coach has assembled a significantly different squad for the international break next week compared to November's selection, with the Red Devils' dramatic upturn in fortunes providing the catalyst for fresh faces.

Mainoo and Maguire headline the recalls, rewarded for their performances as United have emerged as genuine Champions League contenders under Michael Carrick's stewardship since January. The pair's inclusion marks a dramatic reversal from the previous window, when not a single United player featured in Tuchel's plans.

Mainoo, still only 20, makes his return to the national setup after more than 18 months away—his last appearance came in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Maguire's recall reflects his value as an experienced head at the back, particularly crucial during this final opportunity for fringe players to stake their World Cup claims.

Other notable additions to the expanded squad include Leeds' Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton's James Garner, AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori, Brighton's Jason Steele, and Tottenham's Dominic Solanke. The squad also features Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, though Scott's earlier inclusion suggests some shuffling in midfield options.

Tuchel's decision to name 35 players, including five goalkeepers, has left Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins on the sidelines. Newcastle's Nick Pope and Bournemouth's Alex Scott have also dropped out following their November call-ups.

The England boss has opted to split his squad into two distinct camps. The first group, featuring less recently-capped players, will compete for "plane tickets to the US" in what amounts to an extended trial. A second contingent will arrive later in the week for additional rest before the Japan fixture.

Tuchel, who recently penned a contract extension through 2028, is clearly using these friendlies as a genuine dress rehearsal rather than a ceremonial exercise. With the World Cup looming, every selection carries weight, and the decision to rotate and refresh suggests the manager is still evaluating his central midfield options—a position where he clearly hasn't settled on his preferred formula.

The full squad reads as follows:

Goalkeepers: Henderson, Pickford, Ramsdale, Steele, Trafford

Defenders: Burn, Guehi, Hall, Konsa, Livramento, Maguire, O'Reilly, Quansah, Spence, Stones, Tomori

Midfielders: Anderson, Bellingham, Garner, Henderson, Mainoo, Palmer, Rice, Rogers, Wharton

Forwards: Bowen, Calvert-Lewin, Eze, Foden, Gordon, Kane, Madueke, Rashford, Saka, Solanke