Gary Cahill expects Thomas Tuchel to leave Max Dowman out of England’s World Cup squad, despite calls for the Arsenal teenager to be taken as a wildcard to this summer’s tournament.
The former England defender, speaking at the launch event of the 2026 World Cup Panini sticker collection, said of Dowman: “I can’t really see that.” Dowman, 16 years and 73 days old, became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history last month and has made 11 appearances for Arsenal’s first team this season.
Cahill said Tuchel’s decision will come down to the depth available to him. “You’ve got to look at the depth and the personnel he’s got to choose from — and there’s going to be a hell of a lot of players that will miss out,” he said. England are expected to trim a crowded pool of attacking options down to a 26-man squad for the World Cup, and Dowman’s rapid rise has already sparked public debate about whether his breakthrough has come too soon or at exactly the right moment.
That debate has intensified because England already have established forwards pushing for the same places. Danny Welbeck, who has scored 16 goals for his country, last played for England in September 2018 but has added five goals in his last eight games for Brighton. Cahill used him as one of his examples of the competition in front of Tuchel, saying Welbeck is “timing his run unbelievably well.”
He also pointed to Nico O’Reilly, saying the Manchester City youngster has “stepped up massively with big moments” and could end up having a bigger impact than many people think. “A tremendous season, very versatile. I don’t think he is going to be a shock pick, but he could have a bigger impact than many people may think,” Cahill said.
Cahill knows what England selection pressure looks like. He featured at three major tournaments and played 42 times for his country, with only Joe Hart appearing alongside Welbeck in more of those matches. For Dowman, the question is no longer whether he has announced himself; it is whether Tuchel is willing to take a 16-year-old to a World Cup when so many older hands are already waiting.
If Tuchel wants proven cover, Welbeck’s case is easy to make. If he wants the kind of talent that can change a tournament before it is fully underway, Cahill’s remarks suggest O’Reilly may be the younger player more likely to break through first.