England defender Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a calf injury in the days leading up to the tournament, the Football Association confirmed on Monday.
Livramento, who plays his club football at Southampton, had been selected in England’s initial squad and was expected to provide cover at right-back. The injury occurred during training and was assessed by the England medical team, who determined he would not be fit in time to contribute meaningfully during the group stage or beyond.
Trevoh Chalobah has been called up as his replacement. Chalobah, who can play at centre-back or right-back, provides positional flexibility that the England coaching staff considers valuable in a squad already carrying several options in the defensive positions. He has experience of major club football in England and brings composure under pressure.
The news adds a small degree of disruption to England’s World Cup preparations, though the management have been careful to frame it as a manageable setback rather than a significant blow. Livramento had been viewed as a squad depth player rather than a guaranteed starter, with the first-choice right-back position already settled in the eyes of the coaching staff.
England open their Group L campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday at 4 PM Eastern Time. The Livramento situation will not affect the starting lineup for that match, but it does reduce the options available should injuries occur during the tournament.
Chalobah has played in previous England squads and is familiar with the training environment under the current management. His call-up was processed quickly, and he joined the squad ahead of their final preparation session before the Croatia match.
England’s group also includes Ghana and Panama. The squad is considered strong enough to absorb this kind of personnel change without it affecting their overall chances. Previous tournaments have seen England manage similar disruptions without lasting impact on their results.
The FA confirmed Livramento will return to his club for further assessment and is expected to be fit for the start of the Premier League season in August.
