England call up Trevoh Chalobah for World Cup 2026 after Livramento injury
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has cut short his holiday in New York to join England’s 2026 World Cup squad following an injury to Tino Livramento.
A delayed message in Times Square
The versatile centre-back was exploring Times Square when national team manager Thomas Tuchel attempted to make contact.
It was not until returning to his hotel room that the former Ipswich loanee discovered the missed correspondence.
“When I saw the message, he asked if I was free to call, and I said yes. We spoke on FaceTime and he broke the news to me. I was just over the moon.”
Trevoh Chalobah
Replacing the injured Livramento
Chalobah officially becomes the 27th man in the Three Lions’ travelling party, stepping in for the sidelined Newcastle United full-back.
The initial squad announcement had ended in disappointment, with Tuchel originally leaving him off the roster but instructing him to remain prepared.
The surprise call-up triggered a frantic early morning wake-up call to his agent, who initially feared his client was in serious trouble.
Padel, new boots, and a cancelled trip
Staying fit during the off-season was a priority, with the Chelsea academy graduate employing a personal trainer during his American getaway.
However, having given away his football boots at the end of the domestic campaign, a rush request was sent to his sponsors for new equipment.
His holiday itinerary, which included trips to the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes, was supposed to conclude in Los Angeles.
“I am still trying to get my money back,” he smiled, noting his Californian hotel reservation might not be refundable.
Manifesting a childhood dream
The unexpected promotion fulfills an ambition the player publicly manifested eight years ago during a loan spell in League One.
In 2018, the teenager posted a picture of himself alongside the famous golden trophy with the caption “one day”.
Now, he is utilizing rigorous two-hour padel sessions alongside teammates Ivan Toney and Ezri Konsa to ensure peak physical condition.
The resilient defender could make his tournament debut when the national side face Ghana in Boston.
