Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has officially concluded his 2026 World Cup journey without playing a single minute for England. Following his absence from the third-place play-off against France, manager Thomas Tuchel has provided a fresh update on the 21-year-old amid shocking claims the midfielder was urged to fake an injury to avoid the "nonsense" fixture.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo missed England’s World Cup third-place play-off against France after picking up an injury. The 21-year-old will depart the Three Lions camp without having seen a single minute of competitive action during the tournament in North America.
Kobbie Mainoo has been surprisingly snubbed by Thomas Tuchel throughout the 2026 World Cup, but Michael Owen has told GOAL why the Manchester United midfielder may yet have a Geoff Hurst role to play for England. The 21-year-old is having to be patient in pursuit of game time at FIFA’s flagship event, but “unlikely heroes” have emerged at previous tournaments.
It’s time for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, which means it’s time for penalty shootout drama. Generally, England have a terrible reputation when it comes to spot-kicks, winning just four of the 11 shootouts they’ve participated in. But the signs suggest the tide is turning, with three of those wins coming in their last four.
After Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick sparked a wave of viral memes for sitting on Brazil's bench, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo is now the main subject. England boss Thomas Tuchel's decision to keep the 21-year-old out of his starting lineup at the 2026 World Cup has triggered internet jokes, making the midfielder a meme sensation.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has reached out to Kobbie Mainoo with a heartfelt personal message ahead of the midfielder's World Cup debut for England. The Red Devils' all-time record goalscorer hailed the 21-year-old as a pivotal role model for the next generation of talent at Old Trafford - including his son, Kai.
Declan Rice is reportedly harbouring doubts regarding Kobbie Mainoo's productivity off the ball, as the Manchester United midfielder aims to secure a starting spot alongside the Arsenal star in England's World Cup squad. Meanwhile, United boss Michael Carrick is plotting a midfield overhaul to unlock the youngster's full attacking potential next season.
Kobbie Mainoo continues to establish himself as one of the most technically gifted players in the England setup, even leaving his teammates in awe during training. The Manchester United midfielder has been singled out for his incredible close control as Thomas Tuchel’s side prepares for World Cup action in the United States.
Kobbie Mainoo has credited Michael Carrick with saving his international career after being named in England's 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup. The Manchester United starlet admitted he is "very grateful" to the newly-permanent Old Trafford boss for the faith shown in him since he took the reins.
And there you have it - the 2025-26 Premier League season is over. Arsenal are the champions while West Ham have been relegated alongside Wolves and Burnley as Tottenham secured survival on the final day. While the football hasn't always been the most scintillating, it's been a campaign full of twists and turns at both ends of the table, making it difficult to predict any result given the increased parity among the teams in the English top-flight.
So there we have it: England's 2026 World Cup squad is confirmed and it will go down as one of the most contentious of all time. Manager Thomas Tuchel has made it abundantly clear from the outset that he isn't afraid to ruffle some feathers with his decisions, and he has stayed true to his word with his divisive selections for the Three Lions' latest bid to end an agonising wait for a first major trophy since 1966.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke among those to get the nod as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer miss out. Harry Kane captains the Three Lions in their bid to bring 60 years of international trophy heartache to a close, with Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford providing support and competition in the attacking department.
Kobbie Mainoo has opened up on the difficult period he endured under former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, admitting that he considered his future at Old Trafford after being frozen out of the side. The England international was frequently left on the sidelines during the Portuguese’s tenure but has since undergone a dramatic transformation following the appointment of Michael Carrick.
Manchester United supporters have unveiled a genius new dedicated chant for midfield starlet Kobbie Mainoo. The catchy tribute debuted during the Red Devils' dramatic 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, with Mainoo grabbing the winning goal.
For Manchester United, the first half of their game against Liverpool felt like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park. They were cruising after scoring twice inside 14 minutes and their biggest rivals had barely laid a glove on them. The second half, though, was more akin to a mass brawl in a pub after one pint too many. But it all ended with local boy Kobbie Mainoo having the final say.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has admitted he is still waiting to be fully won over by Kobbie Mainoo, despite the youngster's heroics against Liverpool on Sunday. The former Red Devils captain believes there is still a significant "problem" the midfielder needs to address before he can be considered a top-level talent.
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