Lewis Hall Opens Up on England World Cup Snub
Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall has admitted he was left “gutted” after being left out of England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, despite admitting that he had not completely expected to make the final selection.
The 21-year-old was overlooked by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly and Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence selected instead.
Hall had enjoyed an impressive campaign before the squad was announced, including a standout performance against Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal in the Champions League. However, he conceded that missing out came as a significant disappointment.
“I was gutted,” Hall told Chronicle Live. “In football, you never take anything for granted, but I’d say I wasn’t necessarily expecting it, if I’m being completely honest. Obviously, everyone has their own opinions and you have to respect that.”
Despite his disappointment, Hall eventually put the setback behind him and supported England throughout the tournament. He watched the matches with friends while cheering on several current and former Newcastle players who had been selected.
“Once the first couple of weeks had passed and I realised I wasn’t going to be there, I had to think about what I would be doing if I wasn’t a footballer,” Hall explained. “The answer was supporting England, so I watched the games with my mates and just enjoyed being a fan.
“I was supporting Dan [Burn], Elliot [Anderson], Anthony [Gordon] and big Tino [Livramento]. I was really happy for them and wanted them all to do well. Seeing them perform so well also made me proud.”
Hall has since responded positively on the pitch. After scoring in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory over Hull City on Saturday, the defender earned a recall to the England squad following his strong start to the new season.
He could now add to his four international appearances during England’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Spain, Croatia and Czechia.
Asked whether he felt he had something to prove to Tuchel following his World Cup omission, Hall admitted there was some extra motivation.
“A little bit,” he said. “You play enough games during a season for the manager to see how you play, what you’re good at, what you can improve and how you fit into the squad.
“It’s always nice to go there and make a good impression. I’ll be looking to do that. I’m just looking forward to meeting everyone again because it’s been a while.”
” BREAKING NEWS: Lewis Hall Breaks Silence on England World Cup Snub After Newcastle Star’s Shock Admission
