Two Manchester United players called up to England national team, coach Tuchel hints at potential World Cup squad inclusion

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been rewarded for his impressive form by being recalled to the England squad for this month's friendly match. Additionally, Manchester United center-back Harry Maguire has also been called up.

Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire have been recalled to the 35-player England squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been rewarded for his return to the first team under Michael Carrick and his impressive form.

England will face Uruguay on March 27th before playing Japan on March 31st, both matches taking place at Wembley.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the notable names omitted, along with striker Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), defender Luke Shaw (Manchester United), and Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest).

On the other hand, Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been absent from the national team for five years, has been recalled, along with midfielder James Garner (Everton). Brighton goalkeeper Lewis Steele is also included and is one of five goalkeepers called up.

Center-back Harry Maguire also returns after more than a year's absence. Coach Thomas Tuchel stated: "This is simply recognition of Manchester United's achievements as a collective. They have been on an excellent run of form since Michael Carrick took charge, and Harry and Kobbie are key figures in that. This is the final gathering before heading to the USA, and also the last opportunity for me to familiarize myself with new players. Kobbie is one of them."

"Harry is not a new player for the England national team, but he is a new face for me in a training camp. I want to observe them in the national team environment, feel them on the pitch, see what they can do, and understand them better to make clear decisions in May," Coach Tuchel added.

Mainoo has not played for England since the victory over Ireland in the Nations League in September 2024, when the team was led by interim coach Lee Carsley.

This 20-year-old midfielder was previously not favored under coach Ruben Amorim at Manchester United but regained his position when Carrick took charge, starting all 9 matches and almost always playing the full duration.

As a teenager, Mainoo secured a starting role for England under Gareth Southgate in the most recent European Championship and played a key part in the journey to the final. He currently has 10 caps for the "Three Lions".

England completed their World Cup qualification perfectly with 8 consecutive wins, including victories over Serbia and Albania in November 2025. In this summer's World Cup, Tuchel's team is in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The "Three Lions" have two additional friendly matches with New Zealand and Costa Rica in Florida in June for preparation.

Tuchel's contract was initially set to end after the World Cup, but he extended it in February and will lead the national team until the end of EURO 2028.

England national team squad call-up list

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele.

Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori.

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton.

Strikers: Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Solanke.