Trevoh Chalobah has received a late call-up to England’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, replacing the injured Tino Livramento. The announcement came while Chalobah was on holiday in New York City, where England are scheduled to play Panama during the tournament. Chalobah learned of his inclusion after a FaceTime call with England manager Gareth Southgate, a moment he described as overwhelming and joyful.

The defender had initially been left out of the 26-man squad, making him the standby or 27th man prior to Livramento’s withdrawal. Despite the initial disappointment, Chalobah was encouraged by Southgate to remain prepared, advice he took to heart by maintaining his fitness during his break. His holiday activities included training sessions in New York, supported by a personal trainer, as well as recreational padel matches with fellow England players Ivan Toney and Ezri Konsa. Chalobah reported that his recent two-hour padel game ended in his favor, a sign of his sharpness ahead of the tournament.

Chalobah’s journey to the World Cup squad has been marked by perseverance. Since beginning his professional career as a teenager on loan at Ipswich Town, he has steadily worked his way through Chelsea’s ranks despite periods of uncertainty regarding his place in the team. He made 47 appearances for Chelsea in the last season and credits the guidance of former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel—under whom he made his senior club and international debuts—for his development. Tuchel, who had reportedly considered bringing Chalobah to Bayern Munich, maintains a close and supportive relationship with the player.

While seen by some as a versatile player, Chalobah has been informed by Southgate and Tuchel that his likely role in the England squad will be as a right-sided centre-back, where he will compete with players such as Ezri Konsa for a spot. Chalobah expressed eagerness to contribute under England’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, although he had not yet spoken with him at the time of the call-up.

Reflecting on his inclusion, Chalobah called it the pinnacle of his career so far, especially coming after the initial disappointment of missing the squad. He recalled a social media post from 2018, in which he had shared a photo with the World Cup trophy captioned “one day,” a dream that has now been realized eight years later. As England prepare for their opening match against Ghana in Boston, Chalobah stands ready to fulfill his ambition and represent his country on football’s biggest stage.