Why Tuchel wants Ivan Toney back in England picture ahead of World Cup

Thomas Tuchel has kept Ivan Toney in his England thinking despite the striker’s sparse appearances under the manager, the BBC reports. Published on 22 May 2026, the piece explains why Tuchel still values Toney as a World Cup option even though the forward has “barely featured” for England since the German coach took charge.

Why it matters

Keeping Toney in the national-team picture matters because it signals that Tuchel is weighing more than recent minutes when selecting his World Cup squad. If Toney is considered despite limited game time for England, that could affect squad balance, tactical plans and the opportunities available to other forwards in contention.

What the BBC says about Tuchel and Toney

The BBC article states that Ivan Toney has barely featured under Thomas Tuchel but that the coach still wants him in the England squad for the World Cup. The report frames this as a deliberate selection consideration by Tuchel rather than a casual mention, indicating the manager values attributes in Toney that could be useful on a tournament stage.

How Toney could fit in (context and limitations)

The source does not provide detailed quotes or tactical analysis from Tuchel, nor does it list minutes, recent match involvement, club form, or fitness status. Because those specifics are not included in the supplied metadata, this article avoids inventing them. Broadly, a manager choosing a striker who has had limited game time for the national team may be judging training form, club performances, playing profile, or squad balance — but these are general considerations and not stated facts from the BBC piece.

• Ivan Toney has barely featured under England boss Thomas Tuchel.
• Despite that, Tuchel wants Toney included in his World Cup thinking.
• The story was published by BBC Sport Football on 22 May 2026.

What happens next

The BBC piece identifies Tuchel’s interest in Toney but does not say whether Toney will make any provisional or final World Cup list, nor does it provide timing for selections. Readers should expect further updates from England’s camp as squad announcements approach and for fuller explanations from Tuchel or the FA if and when they confirm selections.

This article is based solely on the BBC Sport Football report supplied. Additional facts such as direct quotes, tactical reasoning from Tuchel, Toney’s club situation, minutes played, fitness status or an official squad list were not included in the source metadata and should be verified before publication.