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Marcus Rashford has called his England recall “coming full circle” after overcoming recent setbacks to make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
The striker thanked Unai Emery and Hansi Flick for helping him revive his career, but made no mention of Manchester United.
Rashford reflects on England return after difficult spell
Rashford was delighted to be named in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The striker was previously left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad and faced uncertainty over his international future before returning to his best form after being loaned by United to Barcelona.
He credited his recent experiences with helping him develop personally and professionally ahead of the tournament, including loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona.
He spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign at Villa, where he scored four goals in 17 appearances, before his summer loan at the Catalan club, where he scored 14 times and provided 14 assists to regain his place in the national team.
Rashford thanks Emery, Flick and Tuchel
The striker reacted to the announcement on social media and admitted that the disappointment of missing Euro 2024 had become a driving force in his return.
However, in expressing his gratitude to Villa and Barca, he noticeably omitted United from his statement, having endured a tumultuous time at the club before his eventual departure.
“Today is a full circle for me, from despair to jubilation,” he wrote on social media. “I miss this [2024] The Euro team helped me grow both as a player and a person and, more importantly, gave me something to aim for. Thank you very much for this opportunity and I can’t wait to put on the jersey at the World Cup.
He added: “Special thanks to Unai, Hansi, Thomas, Aston Villa, Barcelona and England for believing in me when things got difficult.”
However, the reaction to his post sparked a response from Rashford, who read: “To make my IG story clear. This is not a dig of any kind! I am an MU supporter, and that remains.
“I expressed my gratitude to the clubs and coaches I have worked with over the past 18 months.”
“They played a big role in this matter [England] call.”
Tuchel ushers in a New England era
Tuchel’s first team at a major tournament included several high-profile omissions.
Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all left out of the final 26-man squad in some of the biggest selection surprises.
The Three Lions head into the World Cup under new management with expectations once again high.
England prepare for Tuchel’s first major tournament
England will now begin preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with Tuchel aiming to quickly establish his preferred system and hierarchy within the team.
Rashford’s resurgence gives England another experienced attacking option alongside Harry Kane.
They will begin the tournament with a Group L match against Croatia on June 17, followed by group matches against Ghana and Panama.
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each game streaming live and on demand on FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, along with the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
