The announcement of any England World Cup squad ultimately ignites a national debate, but Thomas Tuchel’s selection for the 2026 tournament in North America has provoked more shockwaves than usual.
While the headline omissions of established stars like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have dominated the back pages, the inclusion of one man has sparked equal amounts of intrigue and outrage: Ivan Toney.
The 30-year-old striker, currently plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al Ahli, has not featured for England in almost a year. In fact, his solitary appearance under Tuchel came as an 88th-minute substitute in a friendly against Senegal.
So, how did a player who seemingly vanished from the international picture secure a seat on the plane to the USA, Canada, and Mexico?
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
When Toney made the lucrative, £40 million switch to Al Ahli in August 2024, reportedly earning £400,000 per week tax-free, many assumed he had effectively retired from international duty.
However, Toney’s form in the Middle East has been nothing short of staggering. He has plundered 55 goals in 62 appearances over two seasons. To put that into perspective, he has outscored Cristiano Ronaldo (53 goals in 60 appearances) over the same period. This season alone, Toney netted 32 times in 32 matches, boasting a superior shot conversion rate to England captain Harry Kane. He also played a pivotal role in Al Ahli’s back-to-back Asian Champions League triumphs.
While critics are quick to question the quality of the Saudi Pro League, Tuchel, known for his meticulous data analysis, clearly feels the numbers cannot be ignored.
“I had fantastic feedback from his club coach [Matthias Jaissle],” Tuchel explained during his squad announcement. “When it came down to all different kinds of scenarios, he was back in the picture.”
The Ultimate “Scenario” Player
Perhaps the biggest misconception regarding Toney’s inclusion is the idea that he is expected to be a key, 90-minute player.
History shows that a successful tournament run is typically built on a core group of 13 to 16 players. The remaining spots are reserved for specific tactical scenarios, and this is where Toney’s value skyrockets.
Tuchel has selected Toney primarily for his utility as a “Swiss Army Knife” off the bench. At 6’1″, he provides a physical, focal point, a genuine target man, for late-game situations when England may be chasing a goal and resorting to direct balls into the box. He offers a distinctly different profile to Ollie Watkins, whose game is built on running the channels and exploiting space behind defences.
“I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane,” Tuchel noted. “He has a natural presence within the box, he is a natural finisher, he can help us with set-pieces, he is very strong in there.”
And then, of course, there is the penalty factor. Toney is arguably the best penalty taker in the squad, a trait he famously demonstrated during the Euro 2024 quarter-final shootout against Switzerland, dispatching his spot-kick without even looking at the ball. In a tournament where fine margins define success, possessing a flawless penalty taker is an undeniable asset.
The Environmental Advantage
A subtle, yet potentially crucial, factor in Toney’s selection is his current environment. The 2026 World Cup will feature extreme summer temperatures across North America.
While Premier League-based players may struggle to adapt to the stifling heat, Toney has spent the last two years competing in the punishing climate of Saudi Arabia. He is already acclimatized to performing in intense temperatures, giving him a distinct physical advantage over several of his peers.
A Redemption Arc Completed
Toney’s career has been anything but conventional. From grinding his way up through the lower leagues to firing Brentford to the Premier League, his rise was spectacular. However, his momentum was brutally halted by an eight-month ban for betting offenses in 2023.
When he departed for Saudi Arabia, the narrative suggested his career at the highest level was over. Instead, his recall represents the completion of a remarkable redemption arc.
While the debate over his inclusion at the expense of younger, technically gifted playmakers will rage on until England kicks a ball, Tuchel’s logic is clear. He hasn’t selected Ivan Toney to be the star of the show. He has selected him to be the man who steps up when the script is torn apart, the clock is ticking down, and England needs a ruthless edge to survive.
