Trevoh Chalobah was in New York when he found out he would be included in the squad. However, the news took longer to reach him as Thomas Tuchel attempted to deliver the message. While Chalobah was enjoying the sights of Times Square, he only discovered upon returning to his hotel that Tuchel had contacted him with the life-changing update. His vacation plans were about to change because he was selected to join the England squad for the World Cup 2026.
“My heart just dropped,” Chalobah recalled. “When I saw the message from Tuchel asking if I was available for a call, I responded affirmatively. We connected via FaceTime, and he broke the news. I was absolutely thrilled.” Chalobah became the 27th member of the England team, stepping in for Tino Livramento, who was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Excited by the news, he quickly reached out to his family and agent. “I called my family and sent a text to my agent, telling him to wake up,” he shared. “He thought something was wrong.”
In a twist of fate, Tuchel had initially conveyed disappointing news to Chalobah by not including him in the first squad cut. Yet, Tuchel had offered a glimmer of hope: “He told me, ‘You’re close.’” Chalobah felt a mix of disappointment and encouragement, as he was urged to “stay ready.”
Chalobah’s choice of New York as a holiday destination proved strategically advantageous, given that England would face Panama there, possibly in the World Cup final. He had been keeping fit, working out in New York with his personal trainer, but he had given away his football boots at the end of the season, requiring a quick request for new ones from his sponsors.
He also attempted to unwind. “Before heading to New York, I spent a weekend at the F1 in Monaco and then went to Cannes,” he said. He had intended to travel across America with Los Angeles next on his agenda and was still checking if he could get a refund on his hotel there. “I’m still hoping to get my money back,” he chuckled.
Regardless of whether he retrieves his funds, Chalobah sees this as an achievement. Back in 2018, when he was on loan at League One Ipswich, he had shared a message on social media with a picture of himself and the World Cup, affirming he would achieve this dream one day. Reflecting on that moment, he said, “It has always been a dream since I tweeted it.”
He hopes to fulfill that dream against Ghana in Boston, and he is ready to contribute. To maintain his fitness, he has engaged in playing padel with Ivan Toney and Ezri Konsa for two hours, even winning a match against Konsa, who is vying for a similar position on the team. Tuchel has informed Chalobah that he envisions him primarily as a right-sided center-back.
Chalobah’s rapport with Tuchel adds another layer of connection; they share a vibrant, playful relationship. “We really enjoy each other’s company, and I cherish that dynamic,” he shared. Tuchel was the coach who provided Chalobah his debut at both Chelsea and England, and he had even considered bringing him to Bayern Munich as well. “It’s always been a special connection,” he remarked.
Nonetheless, not everyone has recognized Chalobah’s potential. At times, he has found himself in Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ as the club sought to maximize profits from their academy products. Yet, his resilience is commendable—he played in 47 matches last season and remains hopeful of contributing under new manager Xabi Alonso, even though they have yet to converse.
“I love being in this career,” he reflected. “Everything I’ve experienced has shaped me; it illustrates that life, like football, is filled with ups and downs. I have enjoyed every moment.”
Receiving the call to join the World Cup squad was, for him, the pinnacle of his career to date, especially after the initial disappointment of not being included in the preliminary group. “That’s the beauty of it,” he smiled. “When you least expect something and receive a call like that, it shows that even when it feels like all is lost, dreams can still come true.”