The England national team enters the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers in a strong position, leading their group with three straight wins. Yet, instead of focusing only on the next opponents, much of the spotlight has turned to Thomas Tuchel’s surprising decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the squad.

Why Was Alexander-Arnold Not Called Up?

The Real Madrid full-back will miss England’s fixtures against Andorra and Serbia, with Tuchel explaining the reasoning behind the decision in a press conference:

“There’s no doubt I’m a big fan of Trent — for his talent and his personality. But for this call-up, I’ve gone with Reece James and Tino Livramento. He’s a great player who will always be in contention. I know he wanted to be here, which is very important. I just chose others due to competition.”

The move raised eyebrows among fans, especially since Alexander-Arnold has played only 23 minutes for England since October 2024, largely due to persistent injuries.

Which Matches Will England Play in This FIFA Window?

The Three Lions have two fixtures scheduled in less than a week:

• September 6, 2025: England vs Andorra, at Villa Park
• September 9, 2025: Serbia vs England, in Belgrade

With a four-point cushion at the top of their group, England remain in control, though Tuchel stressed that every match is vital on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What Role Does Alexander-Arnold Have in Tuchel’s Plans?

Despite the omission, Tuchel reiterated that the former Liverpool defender is still firmly in his long-term plans. The manager made clear that the decision was driven by internal competition rather than a lack of trust.

The question now is whether Alexander-Arnold can reclaim form and consistency at Real Madrid in the coming months to earn a recall and reestablish himself in the national team setup.