Overview
- The Football Association confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo was ruled out of England’s third-place match against France, with Thomas Tuchel saying the 21-year-old suffered “a sharp pain in the back” in the final training session and “was not ready to play.”
- Mainoo completed the 2026 World Cup without playing a single minute for England and will still receive a bronze medal under FIFA rules that award medals to all members of a top-three 26-man squad.
- Former players and pundits publicly criticised Tuchel’s handling of Mainoo, with voices including Nicky Butt, Neil Warnock, Ben Foster and Gary Neville demanding explanations or urging different treatment.
- Multiple reports say Tuchel had been unhappy with Mainoo’s training performances earlier in the tournament, a factor that outlets link to the manager’s repeated decision not to use him.
- Manchester United face immediate concern over Mainoo’s back problem as they plan for the 2026–27 season, with the player due a break before rejoining Carrington and the club monitoring his recovery for the campaign opener.