Tuchel Eyes Madrid Mission: Will a Madrid Meeting Bring Alexander-Arnold Back into England’s World Cup Plans?

Tuchel Eyes Madrid Visit Over Alexander-Arnold

Thomas Tuchel, England's manager, is seriously considering travelling to Madrid to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold and discuss his international future and a possible return ahead of the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Alexander-Arnold has not played for England since entering as a 26th-minute substitute in the 1-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona last June, the only appearance under Tuchel since he took charge of the Three Lions.

Plans to Talk Career and World Cup Prospects

With only two friendly matches left in March before the summer World Cup, Tuchel says he plans to sit down with the 27-year-old right-back in Spain to examine his situation and future prospects.

In remarks carried by the Daily Mail, Tuchel outlined his approach: he will contact all players, including Trent, explaining why they were not recalled, what they can do to improve, and where they can develop. He indicated the decision may be tactical or not, and that this is his work for the coming weeks and months.

Although discussing meetings with 60 players may be impractical, Alexander-Arnold remains the standout omission, making a Tuchel-Arnold meeting a realistic possibility.

When asked if he would travel to Madrid to visit the former Liverpool star, the German coach replied: why not? Group visits could happen, and he even hinted at meeting Jude Bellingham and Trent together in Madrid.

He added that they will visit clubs and call players. He dislikes phone calls and prefers video calls on FaceTime to read expressions and feel the person more; if needed, he will go to trainings and matches himself. Personal contact is essential.

Tuchel stressed that the next phase requires complete transparency with players, including those not regularly called up, saying it’s important to send honest messages about their place in the plan and provide a clear, candid assessment.

Competition for the Right-Back Spot and World Cup Echoes

The right-back position remains highly competitive in the England squad, with Tuchel currently favouring Reece James of Chelsea despite ongoing injury problems.

In the latest match against Albania in Tirana, Jarell Quansah, Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool teammate, started in this position and delivered a credible performance.

Tuchel expressed strong faith in Quansah, describing him as tall, fast, strong in build-up, and excellent in the air. He noted that Quansah has impressed for Liverpool and has started regularly for Bayer Leverkusen since the European Under-21 Championship, putting him a step ahead of others.

Tuchel will travel to Washington in December for the World Cup draw for 2026, but lamented the long break until March between fixtures that keeps him apart from his players for an extended spell.

Honestly, this hurts, he said, explaining that he told players he must congratulate them at Christmas because he won’t see them for a long period. He longs to be with them again on the touchline next Wednesday, then back on the pitch Saturday, and admits it will be tough not to see them until March.

England closed the qualifiers with a perfect record under Tuchel: eight straight wins and zero goals conceded, the best defensive mark of any European team in World Cup qualifying.

When asked whether these results have “scared” other teams, Tuchel smiled: I hope so, but the key is that we know our strengths, stay true to our defensive and attacking identity, and ensure every player knows how to help a teammate. Perfection is impossible, especially when sometimes you have only one and a half training sessions before matchday. Players must accept this.

He added that team spirit and collective commitment define this group, noting that even if tactical details aren’t always perfect, the drive to press, recover, and correct immediately has been exceptional in recent camps. You can feel it when you watch them, and I want the fans to look at this team and say they play with honesty and resolve.

Tuchel wrapped up by expressing pride in the players and what they have achieved over the recent months: this camp was about us; we had already qualified, so we trained to maintain our level for ourselves, and we did that again.

He finished by praising the players’ character, discipline and commitment, acknowledging a summer dip but highlighting a remarkable revival over three camps and expressing pride in their dedication.

Punchlines aside, if Tuchel ran a comedy club, his openers would feel like a tactical briefing in a stand-up routine: 60 players on the invite list and only one mic in the room. And if football were a movie, Tuchel would be the director of suspense: will he call, will he travel, or will we just stream the next training session?