England’s World Cup preparations have taken an early hit after defender Tino Livramento was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.
The England national football team full-back had only recently returned from a thigh injury that kept him out for the final five weeks of Newcastle’s season. After recovering in time to make 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, Livramento looked set to play a role in England’s campaign — but his tournament is now over before it even begins.
It’s believed the 23-year-old picked up the injury during a training session away from the cameras. While the problem is not considered serious, England’s medical team decided it was best for him to step aside rather than risk further damage.
His club, Newcastle United F.C., confirmed Livramento will return to continue his rehabilitation.
With FIFA’s replacement deadline fast approaching, England acted quickly to bring in Trevoh Chalobah as his replacement. The Chelsea F.C. defender had been on standby and was already in the United States on holiday, making the switch easier.
Under FIFA regulations, teams are allowed to replace injured players up until 24 hours before their opening match, provided the injury is legitimate. England face Croatia national football team in Dallas tomorrow, leaving little room for delay.
Had Livramento’s injury happened just a day later, England would have been forced into the tournament with only 25 players.
Chalobah is no stranger to England boss Thomas Tuchel, having worked under him during his time at Chelsea. That familiarity likely played a key role in the decision.
Interestingly, other names such as Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall, and Luke Shaw were also available from England’s provisional squad.
Why Not Trent Alexander-Arnold?
One question many fans will ask is why Trent Alexander-Arnold wasn’t considered.
According to reports, there were two key reasons. First, there were logistical concerns over his whereabouts and whether he could arrive in time before FIFA’s deadline. Secondly, Tuchel may have been reluctant to bring in such a high-profile player without guaranteeing significant minutes.
The England manager has already left out several big names, including Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, and Phil Foden, preferring squad balance over star power.
Maguire Snub Raises Questions
Maguire was another obvious candidate for a late call-up, especially given his experience, but Tuchel opted against it.
Reports suggest the relationship between the England manager and the Manchester United F.C. defender has been strained since Maguire was left out of the original squad.
Maguire recently revealed that when Tuchel informed him of his omission, he wasn’t given a clear explanation and made his feelings known in response.
The defender also stated he would have accepted even the smallest role in the squad, saying he’d have been happy to play “just one minute” at the World Cup.
However, it’s understood Tuchel was unhappy with Maguire’s decision to publicly address his omission before the official squad announcement, a move that may have damaged any hopes of a late recall.
For England, the focus now shifts to their opening clash with Croatia — but losing Livramento this early is a frustrating setback for a team hoping to go deep in the tournament.
