England striker Ivan Toney was unexpectedly named to the FIFA World Cup squad by manager Thomas Tuchel in May 2025 [4].
The selection marks a significant return to the national team for the Al-Ahli forward following his move to Saudi Arabia. His inclusion provides the England squad with additional attacking depth and a proven goal-scorer ahead of the tournament.
Toney reacted to the news while sitting in his favorite barber shop in Clapham, South London [1]. A video of the moment went viral online, capturing the striker's excitement as he learned of his selection. "It's coming home," Toney said [3].
Manager Thomas Tuchel described the decision as a surprise. "I surprised myself by including Ivan Toney in the World Cup squad," Tuchel said [2]. The manager indicated that the selection followed a private conversation to resolve previous issues. "We had a clear-the-air talk and everything fell into place," Tuchel said [2].
The call-up follows a productive period for the striker, who scored 40 goals during the season [5]. Toney had previously appeared for the national team in a June friendly against Senegal, where he entered the match as an 88th-minute substitute [6].
Despite the eventual selection, some reports earlier suggested that Toney remained unlikely to make the final roster [7]. However, Tuchel's final squad list confirmed the striker's place in the delegation for the World Cup.
“"It's coming home."”
Toney's inclusion suggests that Thomas Tuchel is prioritizing raw goal-scoring form over league prestige or previous interpersonal friction. By selecting a player based in the Saudi Pro League who has maintained a high scoring rate, England is signaling a willingness to look beyond traditional European leagues to maximize their offensive output for the World Cup.
