NEWS · 21 Sep 2026
Palmer & Rice among five withdrawals from England squad
England's squad for the upcoming Nations League matches saw five players pull out, including Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo.
England’s call‑up for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures was cut short when five players announced they would not be joining the squad. The withdrawals came from Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo.
The Nations League provides a competitive platform for England to fine‑tune their line‑up ahead of major tournaments, so the loss of these key figures is a noticeable blow to the team’s depth.
With the squad now down to 23 players, the coaching staff will need to reshuffle the roster, potentially promoting uncapped players or those who have been on the fringes of selection.
While the exact reasons for the withdrawals were not disclosed, the decision will give other squad members a chance to step up and prove themselves in the high‑profile matches to come.
England will face their next Nations League opponents with a revised lineup, and the coaching team will be keen to assess the new group’s performance in the coming games.