England manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the national team’s latest 35-man roster has become the dominant talking point ahead of the March international window. Despite a strong resurgence at Real Madrid, where Alexander-Arnold has recently been playing regular minutes after overcoming injury setbacks, the 27-year-old right-back finds himself on the outside looking in as England prepare for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley Stadium.
Tuchel’s explanation for the omission was straightforward, if not a bit surprising. “I’ve gone with other players,” he told reporters on March 27, 2026, confirming that Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, and Ben White were ahead in the pecking order for the right-back slot. The choice came as a shock to many, especially given Alexander-Arnold’s recent form in Spain and the fact that injuries had ruled out other regulars like Reece James, while both Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have retired from international duty.
“It’s just a choice, a sporting choice, but these choices have to be made,” Tuchel explained, acknowledging the controversy the decision would inevitably spark. “I know it creates noise to leave out a player like Trent. We had a call and I tried to explain the situation. He just has to accept it.”
Tuchel’s preference for continuity was also clear. “This choice was about Ben White and Tino Livramento, and stick with the guys who had good camps with us in September, November and December. They also need minutes. There are many good players in this position, including Djed Spence, who is competing for a spot.” Injuries forced some late adjustments to the squad—Arsenal’s Ben White was called up after Jarell Quansah withdrew—but Alexander-Arnold’s name never resurfaced as a possibility.
Yet, Tuchel was quick to dispel any rumors of a personal rift between himself and Alexander-Arnold, especially after the defender posted a cryptic message on Instagram reading, “Madrid. Y nada mas” (“Madrid, nothing else”), following his omission. Addressing speculation, Tuchel told ITV, “Well, fair enough, fair enough. I think it’s a very hard decision that we took. No doubt about his talent, no doubt about his career and what he can give to teams.”
Tuchel further elaborated that the team’s tactical approach had evolved since the autumn, shifting to a model that doesn’t perfectly suit Alexander-Arnold’s strengths. “We created a slightly different game model when he was not in camp in September, October, November. It was a game model built on intensity, built on positivity, built even in the profile of the right full back on overlaps on underlaps, very intense. So it was a slightly different profile of players who were with us in camp and who performed so well. We just stick to these guys that is on his back and maybe he was with us in June and he should have maybe deserved a second chance.”
For Alexander-Arnold, the omission marks another frustrating chapter in his international career. Since Tuchel took charge of England in March 2025, the Real Madrid defender has managed just one appearance for the national team, a substitute cameo against Andorra in June 2025. The current snub means he could miss out on a major international tournament for the first time since Euro 2020, when injury forced him out of contention.
Despite the setback, Tuchel insists the door remains open for Alexander-Arnold ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. “He’s on the preliminary list and everyone is still in contention,” Tuchel said. “But right now, there are other players slightly ahead.” He also emphasized that his evaluation process is ongoing: “I’ll watch some Real Madrid matches and maybe attend a Champions League game live to form a final impression.” Specifically, Tuchel pointed to Real Madrid’s upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich as a crucial opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to prove his worth.
Wayne Rooney, England’s all-time top scorer, was among the high-profile voices expressing disbelief at the decision. On his BBC podcast, Rooney remarked, “The one big surprise, obviously, was Trent. I find it incredible that he’s not in a 35-man squad. It didn’t sound like there was any way back for Trent in the squad, the way Thomas Tuchel spoke.” Rooney went further, suggesting the snub might go beyond footballing reasons. “He should be in that squad. Look at his ability, his quality – I know he’s not the best defender, he’ll probably admit that himself. But what he has on the ball is something no other English player has. He’s been playing for Real Madrid recently and playing really well.”
Rooney’s comments have fueled speculation about deeper issues at play, especially given Alexander-Arnold’s close relationship with Jude Bellingham, another Real Madrid star who has faced his own selection challenges. However, Tuchel was adamant that the decision was based purely on sporting grounds. “I know very well what Trent can offer us. I played many times against him and suffered when he played against my teams with Liverpool. So I know very well about his strength and what he can give. But at the moment it is like we have evidence how good we were in September, October, November, and the players who are in camp for right full-back, they have to push for their ticket, they have to compete, they have to show again that they deserve this.”
As England prepare to face Uruguay and Japan in their final friendlies before the World Cup, the debate over Alexander-Arnold’s exclusion shows no signs of abating. The right-back, who boasts 34 England caps, remains a player of immense talent and unique qualities—attributes that many believe could still prove invaluable on the world stage.
Tuchel’s final evaluation of Alexander-Arnold will come down to performances in the coming weeks, particularly in high-pressure matches for Real Madrid. For now, the England manager is standing by his choices, while leaving the door ajar for a potential late change. “He’s not out of the race,” Tuchel concluded, making it clear that the story of Alexander-Arnold and the Three Lions is far from over.
With the World Cup squad announcement looming and friendly matches set to provide a final audition for fringe players, all eyes will be on both Wembley and the Santiago Bernabéu. Will Alexander-Arnold force his way back into contention, or will this latest omission mark the end of his World Cup dream? For now, the answer lies in the balance, with Tuchel watching closely and the football world holding its breath.