Livramento Ruled Out of England World Cup Squad as Chalobah Earns Late Call-Up

Posted : 16 June 2026

England have suffered a defensive setback ahead of their World Cup campaign, with Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento ruled out of the tournament due to a calf injury. Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has been selected as his replacement.

The 23-year-old Livramento sustained the injury during a training session on Sunday, just days before England's opening Group Stage match against Croatia. Concerns over his fitness had already existed after he missed the final five weeks of the club season because of a thigh problem.

Chalobah, who has made one senior appearance for England, is travelling to join the national team camp in Kansas City. However, he will not arrive in time for the opening fixture, with the rest of the squad continuing preparations in Dallas ahead of Wednesday’s match.

FIFA regulations allow teams to replace injured outfield players up to 24 hours before their first match of the tournament, enabling England to make the late adjustment to their squad.

Livramento made his England debut under former manager Gareth Southgate in November 2024 and went on to feature five times since Thomas Tuchel took charge, including two starts. He appeared as a substitute in England’s pre-tournament victory over New Zealand but remained unused in the subsequent friendly against Costa Rica.

England’s right-back position remains an area of concern, with first-choice option Reece James also managing fitness issues after an injury-disrupted season with Chelsea. James missed the closing stages of the club campaign because of a hamstring problem, leaving Tuchel with limited options in the role.

Additional defensive cover is available through Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa, both of whom are already part of the World Cup squad. Spence offers versatility across both flanks, while Konsa, naturally a central defender, has become a regular presence in the national team setup.

For Chalobah, the call-up represents a significant milestone. The Chelsea defender has not played for England since a friendly against Senegal in June 2025, although he remained involved in several World Cup qualifying squads. His selection also fulfills a long-held ambition, having famously posted "One day #Believe" on social media during the 2018 World Cup final when he was still a teenager.

Livramento Ruled Out of England World Cup Squad as Chalobah Earns Late Call-Up

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