Premier League star speaks candidly about Tuchel's decision to leave him out of England's 2026 World Cup squad.
On 4 July 2026, Cole Palmer, a key attacking player from Chelsea in the English Premier League, gave an interview to The Times, a leading British media outlet, while taking a summer break after not being selected for England's 2026 World Cup squad.
England's national team, under coach Thomas Tuchel, faced increased scrutiny after a lackluster performance at the 2026 World Cup, achieving a 4-2 win over Croatia, a 0-0 draw with Ghana, a group stage victory against Panama, and a narrow 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32.
This led to criticism of Tuchel's choices for the England squad, especially with right-back injuries sidelining Reece James and Jarell Quansah, leaving only Ched Spence, who has yet to prove himself fully. The attacking lineup also struggled to make a significant impact, including players like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Morgan Rogers.
Cole Palmer opened up about not being called up for England's 2026 World Cup team, saying, "Every footballer wants to play at the World Cup, but it’s a decision I can’t change, and it’s a tough one, whatever the reasons may be."
"Right now, I’m just trying to enjoy my summer break, which is actually the first time I’ve had a rest during this period."
When asked if he felt support from fans, Palmer responded, "Yes, definitely. That’s a good thing, but I’m not there with the team."
"I know what I can contribute to the team, which differs from the choices the manager made. But as I’ve said before, I can’t change that decision, and I wish everyone the best of luck."
"It’s like anything else: if someone tells you you’re not good enough, you naturally want to prove them wrong."
Regarding watching England's games at the 2026 World Cup, Palmer said, "I watch as much as I can. I’m enjoying my holiday and other activities, but if I have free time and a live broadcast is on, I’ll watch."
England is scheduled to face Mexico in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 on Sunday night, 5 July, which corresponds to 07:00 on Monday morning, 6 July, Thailand time.
