Updated: 22 May 2026 22:30 BST |
4 min read
It’s official, Cole Palmer will not be going to the 2026 World Cup with England. Instead, he’ll have his feet up this summer as he looks to fully recover from an ongoing pubalgia issue.
For Palmer, it will be a blow. For Chelsea, however, his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s squad is fantastic news as it enhances the probability of the Englishman beginning next season in tip-top physical condition, which is something he has struggled without throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
The 24-year-old has started 21 of Chelsea’s last 23 matches in the Premier League, but everyone who has watched him this season will be able to acknowledge that something isn’t quite right.
He has shown glimpses of his true potential, however his overall performance level has been extremely disappointing and that’s why his World Cup exclusion shouldn’t be much of a surprise, despite the fact he scored for England in their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain two years ago.
Palmer is suffering with pubalgia – a chronic groin problem – and there is no immediate cure. Rest is the order of business to get back to full fitness, and rest is what Palmer will get while a number of club team-mates are competing in North America.
That will come as little solace to the former Manchester City star, but it’s true. Furthermore, it will give Palmer a great opportunity to work with new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso through the entirety of pre-season, alongside Joao Pedro, who wasn’t picked by Brazil.
Cole Palmer has an easy transfer decision
There has been immense uproar to Tuchel’s World Cup selection, and there has been a fairly scattergun and inconsistent pattern of who has been picked. Out-of-form Palmer and Phil Foden excluded, but out-of-form Djed Spence and Noni Madueke on the plane. Experienced Jordan Henderson and John Stones selected, but experienced Harry Maguire left at home.
However, the main criteria Tuchel has used is ultimately who has been in international camps over the last year and has contributed well to the qualifying campaign and the overall atmosphere at St George’s Park. That’s why Palmer has missed out, just as much as his indifferent Chelsea form.
So, any speculation suggesting he needs to leave the chaos at Stamford Bridge in order to get back into contention at international level is far from the truth.
The way Palmer gets back into the England team is simply ensuring he remains fully fit next season and returns to the form he displayed during the first 18 months of his Chelsea career. The former can be achieved at any club, largely thanks to his summer of rest, and the latter can certainly be achieved at Chelsea under Alonso.
The Spaniard helped Florian Wirtz become one of the best attackers in world football during his spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and his system appears perfectly-suited to ensuring Palmer is a hugely influential presence in forward areas.
The allure of returning to Manchester to join Man Utd may be there for Palmer, but Chelsea is the best place for him to get back to his best and Alonso is the perfect coach for him.
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