New Delhi, May 22 -- Midfielder Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were among the surprise omissions as head coach Thomas Tuchel named his final 26-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday. Having finished in the semifinals and quarterfinals in 2018 and 2022 editions respectively under Gareth Southgate, England hired former Chelsea boss Tuchel to end their 60-year wait for a FIFA World Cup - the last time they won it was in 1966.

Along with Foden and Palmer, Real Madrid's Trent Alexander Arnold and Manchester United's Harry Maguire were the surprise absentees. However, Tuchel's selection of Saudi-based Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney surprised many.

Having managed clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the German took a few bold...