Ivan Toney not giving up on World Cup dream despite being left out of latest England squad without warning by Thomas Tuchel

Toney’s contributions helped Al-Ahli lift the AFC Champions League and add the Saudi Super Cup at the start of this campaign. On the surface, it looks like a fairytale rise. But back home, the story is very different.

Despite his heroics in the Middle East, Toney has been frozen out of Tuchel’s England plans. Once considered a useful tool in the national setup, even featuring at Euro 2024, the 28-year-old has found himself increasingly overlooked. Since his move abroad, only one call-up has followed, and even that didn’t translate into significant game time. Toney was missing from the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. The snub has fuelled doubts about whether he will feature at the 2026 World Cup at all.

If Tuchel’s silence is meant to send a message, Toney isn’t listening. Speaking defiantly to The Guardian, he insists he will keep chasing his dream: "I have to concentrate on myself and give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country but if not, I’ll be cheering the boys on.”

Interestingly, the forward revealed he has had no communication with Tuchel since his omission. But he’s far from bitter: "I don’t expect to have a conversation with him. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance.”

Critics might argue that the Saudi Pro League lacks the intensity of Europe’s elite competitions, but the striker’s numbers are impossible to ignore. Hence, Toney won’t dwell on the snub for long. His next test comes this Friday as Al-Ahli face Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.