World Cup 2026: Liverpool's absence breaks four decades of tradition

England is preparing for the 2026 World Cup amid a remarkable development that carries deep connotations in the history of English football, as German coach Thomas Tuchel decided to exclude all Liverpool players from the final squad of three lions, breaking a four-decade long tradition. This is the first time since the 1986 Mexico World Cup that Anfield has missed representing England in the most important tournament in the world. Back then, Coach Bobby Robson made a similar decision that shocked footballing circles, before Liverpool returned to become a steady source of English talent in all subsequent major tournaments. Over the past decades, English football legends such as Steven Gerrard, Jimmy Carragher, Michael Owen and Trent Alexander-Arnold have carried the Liverpool flag into the national team, forming the backbone of successive generations of three lions. This marked absence reflects the radical transformations that Liverpool is witnessing it in the new era, especially after the departure of German coach Jürgen Klopp, as many English stars lost their luster or moved to other clubs, while others sat on the bench. In contrast, Tuchel relied on players from Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle, along with European stars such as Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid and Harry Kane from Bayern Munich, in a clear indication of the changing map of English football talent. This development is a profound symbolic sign in the history of English football, marking the end of a long era of Liverpool dominance over the national team, and opening a new page that may reshape the identity of the three lions in future tournaments.