England are preparing for a World Cup squad that will not include Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Djed Spence is set to be named in the group. The decision reflects Thomas Tuchel’s latest selection choices, with Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento preferred at right-back and Manchester United’s Luke Shaw also missing out.
Alexander-Arnold’s omission marks another setback in his England career under Tuchel. The Real Madrid full-back has not been called up since June 2025, when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Andorra, his only appearance for Tuchel so far.
Alexander-Arnold’s struggle for a place
The 27-year-old’s absence is not tied to one single issue. An ankle injury in his final Liverpool season ruled him out of Tuchel’s first squad in March 2025, and a hamstring problem kept him out of the October camp.
Even when fit, he has not been a regular part of Tuchel’s plans. That has left one of England’s most experienced full-backs on the outside looking in as the squad takes shape for the tournament.
Alexander-Arnold has 38 England caps and made his senior debut in 2018. He has started only three matches at major tournaments and was sometimes used in central midfield under Gareth Southgate.
Spence earns a call despite injury
Spence’s inclusion comes after a difficult week at club level, as he suffered a broken jaw in Tottenham’s defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday evening. He is expected to wear a protective mask for Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton.
The Tottenham defender has made 43 appearances this season and has become a useful option for Tuchel because he can play on either side of the back line. He has started only one of Spurs’ past five games, but his flexibility appears to have helped him secure a place in the squad.
Tuchel handed Spence his England debut in Belgrade in September, and the 25-year-old has since added three more caps. His last England appearance came against Uruguay in March, after he made his senior international debut in September.
Why Spence stayed in contention
Spence offers qualities that England’s staff value highly, especially his one-v-one defending and ability to drive forward with the ball. At times last season, he also stood out as one of Tottenham’s strongest performers.
There have also been questions about his attitude during parts of his career, which makes his continued rise more notable. Tuchel acknowledged in November that he “didn’t like it” when Spence appeared to ignore then-Spurs manager Thomas Frank after a league defeat by Chelsea.
Even so, the full-back’s ability to cover both full-back positions may have tipped the balance in his favour. With Livramento preferred and Shaw also left out, Spence’s selection shows how competition for England places remains tight across the defensive line.
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