England's preparations for the 2026 World Cup have been thrown into further chaos after Thomas Tuchel named Trevoh Chalobah as a late replacement for the injured Tino Livramento, a decision that has divided supporters.

Livramento, the Newcastle United right-back, was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury — a blow made all the more frustrating given that the 23-year-old had already missed the final five fixtures of the Magpies' season with a thigh problem.

Chalobah steps in as right-back crisis deepens

Rather than turning to a natural right-back, Tuchel opted for Chalobah, a centre-back currently at Chelsea. The decision raised eyebrows immediately, with fans pointing to the absence of Lewis Hall, Harry Maguire, and Trent Alexander-Arnold — none of whom featured in Tuchel's original 26-man squad, nor in this eleventh-hour addition.

Alexander-Arnold and Hall, in particular, were widely regarded as more fitting choices for the vacancy left by Livramento's withdrawal. England now have just Reece James and Djed Spence as recognised right-back options, leaving Tuchel's defensive cover looking thin heading into the tournament.

Chalobah will not be available for England's opening Group L fixture against Croatia on 17 June at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Instead, the 26-year-old will travel directly to Kansas City — the same base England were heading to at the time of a separate squad incident earlier this week — to prepare for the Three Lions' subsequent matches.

A debut against Senegal and precious little else

The Chelsea defender holds just one senior international cap, earned in a 3-1 friendly defeat against Senegal in 2025. His limited international experience has only deepened the controversy surrounding his selection, with many supporters questioning whether more established names deserved the call ahead of him.

England's tournament preparations have been far from smooth. Between the Livramento injury and an earlier incident that disrupted the squad's travel plans, Tuchel's side have endured a turbulent opening week — and they are yet to play a single minute of competitive football at the 2026 World Cup.