Kyle Walker Says England Made a Big Mistake Leaving Luke Shaw at Home

When Thomas Tuchel announced England’s 2026 World Cup roster, most of the debate centered on Harry Maguire getting cut. But Kyle Walker has thrown another name into the conversation — and it’s one that stings a little more for Manchester United fans.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Manchester City fullback made it clear he believes Luke Shaw deserved a spot on the plane to this summer’s tournament. Walker didn’t just toss out a casual opinion. He made a case.

“I think people forget Luke Shaw,” Walker said. “Luke Shaw’s had a fantastic year for Manchester United.”

Shaw started all 38 league matches this season, a feat only four other United players have pulled off in the Premier League era. That level of durability alone turned heads after two injury-plagued campaigns in which he managed just 27 total appearances. This season, not one game missed due to injury. None.

He played both as a center-back in a back three under Ruben Amorim and as a traditional left-back after Michael Carrick took over. That versatility, combined with an injury-free run, seemed to make him a natural depth piece for a World Cup squad that values experience and positional flexibility.

Tuchel disagreed.

Walker didn’t hold back when discussing the manager’s choice to pick Newcastle’s Dan Burn over Maguire, either. “That one shocked me — especially over Harry Maguire,” Walker said. He also explained why Shaw could have played a specific role in the squad’s tactical setup.

“To be in the tournaments that Luke Shaw has been in as well, and okay, probably he’s not got the legs of Djed Spence or Livramento, but his experience … you could probably sit him next to the center halves and let Reece James go a little bit higher,” Walker added.

Shaw’s World Cup history runs deep. He debuted at the 2014 tournament as a teenager, becoming the youngest player to feature that year. Injuries kept him out of the 2018 squad, but he returned in 2022, starting all five games before England fell to France in the quarterfinals. That match remains his last World Cup appearance.

He also started both the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals, scoring the fastest goal in European Championship final history in the first of those two losses. For a player with that kind of big-stage résumé, missing out on another global tournament stings.

There is a silver lining for United fans. Shaw will now join preseason training without the fatigue of a World Cup campaign, which could be a major asset during a demanding 2026/27 season. But for a player who proved his fitness, his form, and his value, the snub from Tuchel still feels like a missed opportunity.