Trent Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup dream has been dashed again — this time because England’s FA chiefs do not know where he is.
The Real Madrid defender appeared to have been handed a late lifeline on Tuesday when Newcastle’s Tino Livramento pulled out of the squad with a calf injury. But instead of calling up the 34-cap Alexander-Arnold, Thomas Tuchel turned to Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah.
“Thomas Tuchel snubs Trent Alexander-Arnold for World Cup after Livramento injury, calling up Trevoh Chalobah instead.”
The FA confirmed the move in a statement: “Trevoh Chalobah has been called into England’s 26-player squad at FIFA World Cup 2026 after injury sadly forced the withdrawal of Tino Livramento. Arrangements are now being made for the Chelsea defender to make the journey to the team’s basecamp in Kansas City, while the rest of the squad will head to Dallas, Texas for the Three Lions’ opening group fixture against Croatia on Wednesday.”
Livramento picked up the injury in training on Sunday afternoon; a subsequent scan and medical assessment on Monday confirmed he would play no further part in the tournament. FIFA regulations allow a replacement up to 24 hours before the opening fixture.
So why not Alexander-Arnold? According to Sky Sports, FA chiefs are unsure of the defender’s whereabouts, raising concerns over whether he could reach the United States in time. Beyond logistics, Tuchel has adopted a hard-line stance: he will not take big names to the World Cup if they are not guaranteed minutes. Alexander-Arnold, who has earned just one of his 34 caps under the German, fits that bracket.
Tuchel explained his thinking earlier this year: “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. 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.”
For Alexander-Arnold, the snub leaves him watching from afar as England begin their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday — with Chalobah now en route to Kansas City, not him.