Wayne Rooney did not hold back when reacting to England’s squad announcement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, especially after controversial defender Harry Maguire was left out of the final roster.

WHAT DID ROONEY SAY ABOUT MAGUIRE AND TUCHEL?

“Maguire’s omission surprised me. If you look at his current form, he’s unlucky and must be hugely disappointed to miss out. Maybe Tuchel didn’t want to disrespect him by taking him and not giving him minutes. I don’t know,” Rooney said on his BBC podcast, suggesting England manager Thomas Tuchel may have spoken privately with the Manchester United center-back before making the decision.

Although Rooney admitted he disagreed with the call — saying he would have preferred Maguire over Newcastle United defender Dan Burn — the former England captain insisted he still trusts Tuchel heading into the tournament.

“Even if I don’t agree with every decision, I trust Tuchel and his qualities as a coach.”

ENGLAND’S LONG WAIT AND MAGUIRE’S HOPE

German manager Thomas Tuchel will try to guide England to the next level at the World Cup after the Three Lions fell short in the semifinals and quarterfinals of the last two editions, while also finishing runners-up in two European Championships.

England have not won the World Cup since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1966. The 2026 tournament is also viewed by many fans as another chance for redemption after the nation failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in United States and suffered painful eliminations against Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1986 — both defeats coming in Mexico.

Maguire has often been heavily criticized for inconsistent performances, but his resilience has helped him earn 66 caps and appear in two World Cups for England. He also holds the record for most international goals by an England defender with seven, ahead of legends John Terry and Jack Charlton.

Now 33, Maguire appears set to miss out on what would have been his third World Cup. The defender himself admitted he was shocked and devastated by the decision, especially because representing England is “what he loves most.”

Still, there remains a possibility of a return for the 2030 FIFA World Cup if he can maintain his level over the coming years.

England’s oldest-ever World Cup player was legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton at age 40, while David James remains the oldest defender to represent the Three Lions at the tournament at 39 — meaning Maguire’s dream may not be over yet.

ROONEY HAS DEFENDED MAGUIRE BEFORE

This is far from the first time Rooney has publicly backed Maguire. Despite both sharing ties to Manchester United, Rooney has consistently praised the Sheffield-born defender’s mentality and character, especially during periods of intense criticism.

One notable example came after Manchester United’s dramatic comeback victory over Liverpool, when Maguire scored after losing his starting spot and the club captaincy.

“He’s been turned into a meme for years. People have talked about him everywhere, even in parliament and across the world. But he never gave up,” Rooney said at the time.

“They took the captaincy away from him, people laughed at him, but he kept performing for England and United. That’s real strength of character, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

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