The Newcastle full-back was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup due to a muscle injury, and coach Thomas Tuchel chose the Chelsea defender to take his place
To fill his spot, Chalobah, a Chelsea defender who can play both as a center-back and on the right flank, was called up. The player comes off a season with a lot of participation in the London team, where he played a significant number of matches as a starter and established himself as an important piece within the squad.
Despite his experience in the Premier League, his journey with the England senior national team is limited. So far, he has only recorded one international appearance, in the 3-1 defeat against Senegal in a friendly match played in June 2025.
It should be noted that due to the timing of the call-up, Chalobah will not be available for the match against Croatia, although he will be able to join the squad for the next group stage matches against Ghana and Panama.
Just hours before their debut in the 2026 World Cup against Croatia in Group L, England suffered a significant blow to their squad. Thomas Tuchel decided to withdraw Tino Livramento due to a muscle injury that will keep him off the pitch for several weeks and called up Trevoh Chalobah in his place to complete the final list of 26 players.
The Newcastle full-back had been dealing with physical discomfort that was ultimately diagnosed as a muscle injury in the hamstring area, although other reports indicated a tear in one of the calves. Given the impossibility of recovering him in time for the rest of the competition, the coaching staff opted to replace him.
This absence represents a setback for the 26-year-old player, who was hoping to play in his first World Cup. Additionally, he arrived with chances to compete for a spot in the starting lineup thanks to his ability to perform on both sides of the defense.
This injury marked the end of a season plagued by physical problems. During the last season with the Magpies, the defender was sidelined several times due to various muscle issues and knee discomfort that significantly limited his continuity.
