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England are preparing to take on Mexico in the World Cup last 16 at the iconic Estadio Azteca—but Cole Palmer will be watching from home as Thomas Tuchel's squad looks to advance to the quarterfinals, with the player himself acknowledging he could have "offered something different" had he been included.
Palmer's omission has sparked widespread debate in the media and among supporters. Having come off the bench to score in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, few would have predicted that the 23-year-old would miss England's 26-man squad at the start of the 2025–26 campaign, particularly after a remarkable season at Chelsea in which he netted 43 goals across all competitions.
Palmer's meteoric rise to becoming one of the finest attacking midfielders on the planet was unexpectedly derailed by a turbulent campaign. A persistent groin injury was initially handled poorly by Chelsea, resulting in him missing nearly three months of action. A gradual return was necessary, curtailing his contribution at crucial points in Chelsea's season, and further fitness setbacks prevented him from recapturing his best form. The club ended up finishing 10th in the Premier League and missed out on European qualification.
With several players catching the eye for their clubs, Palmer was left out of Tuchel's 26-man World Cup squad—Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze among those with a similar profile who earned their places.
Palmer Confident He Could Have Helped England
England's underwhelming performances against Ghana, Panama and DR Congo have reignited the conversation around Palmer's exclusion, and he has now told The Times that he believes he could have made a difference in North America—though he is "enjoying" his time away "doing different things."
"I'm watching it when I can. I'm enjoying my holidays and doing different things, but when I'm relaxing then, yeah, if a game is on I'll tune in," Palmer said.
"Of course I do (wish I was part of the squad). Every footballer wants to be at the World Cup, but it's a decision I cannot change and a difficult one, for whatever reason. But I'm just trying to make the most of the summer off—the first summer I've ever had off.
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"I know what I could have brought, you know—something different to what the manager has gone with. But like I said, I can't change the decision and I wish everyone the very best."
Tuchel has so far alternated between Madueke and Bukayo Saka as his first-choice starters on the right flank, with Jude Bellingham operating effectively as England's No. 10. Greater creativity may be needed to unlock a resolute Mexico backline that has yet to concede at this tournament, but Palmer won't be the one providing it.