In the aftermath of the 2026 World Cup, a Chelsea winger has returned to the centre of a national-team debate after another abrupt change to his international plans.
Thomas Tuchel had brought the wide player back into the squad for the next tournament, offering a swift route back after his controversial omission from the World Cup group. That recall has now been cancelled, with the Chelsea man withdrawn from selection.
Quick facts
- A Chelsea winger was left out of the 2026 World Cup squad.
- The omission prompted debate in his home country.
- Thomas Tuchel subsequently selected him for a new tournament.
- The player has since been removed from that squad.
The reversal leaves the player’s international position uncertain only weeks after Tuchel appeared to reopen the door. His absence from the World Cup had already made him a prominent subject of discussion among supporters and observers at home.
No specific explanation for the latest withdrawal was provided in the available information. The episode nevertheless extends a difficult international window for a player whose club season at Chelsea is now running alongside renewed scrutiny of his national-team future.
