Inside England's World Cup 2026 squad - Alex Scott sees initial snub become major opportunity

Alex Scott says it took him “two seconds” to decide to catch the plane to the United States - and still has not given up on the World Cup.

Bournemouth midfielder Scott, 22, admits he was “disappointed” not to make England’s squad in the first place and some players might have told the manager where to get off.

But England boss Thomas Tuchel called with good and bad news. The bad news was that he had not made the 26 man squad. The good news was that he asked him to join the training camp in Florida.

Scott is set to play for England in their warm-up friendly with New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday and is effectively first reserve if anyone else gets injured. When asked whether he thought about just going on holiday instead, Scott said: “No, definitely not. That’s how the call went.

“First of all, he said you won’t be with us but then he said straight away that he really wants me to come to the prep camp and I need time to think about it and see if I want to come because he understands how disappointing it can be.

“But I said yes straight away, it took me two seconds to say of course I want to come and be part of the group for the prep camp. It is great to be here and to be in the States helping the boys prepare as best as they can for the tournament.

“For me it is just an honour to be here and be part of the prep camp. It’s obviously disappointing not to be in the final squad, but for him to put the trust and belief in me to join the group and come here ahead of such a massive tournament is a real privilege.

“It is what you dream of as a kid to play for your country. It is everything. Obviously I haven’t got my cap yet, but even being here and being around so many top players who will hopefully go on and win the trophy for us.

“Being a fan first an foremost and watching so many tournaments, it is great being part of this group and seeing how they work day to day and seeing what goes into a World Cup preparation.”

View 3 Images

Scott is one of four “training players” - along with Josh King, Rio Ngumoha and Ethan Nwaneri - but he is the only one who can be promoted to the full squad in case of injury.

Any player must be in the initial 55 man long list to even be considered at this stage but FIFA do allow last minute changes because of injury.

Scott has just enjoyed a terrific season with Bournemouth where he has been in sensational form ad earned rave reviews to make himself a hot property this summer.

But that has also come on the back of being called up by England last November - and then being dropped from the squad in March after not getting any minutes in the previous camp.

However, it was Scott’s reaction to being dropped that really saw his season catch light because he used it as fuel to his fire to prove any doubters wrong.

Scott said: “I think you have to. I am in a very privileged position to be playing football in the Premier League and playing around the England squad as well.

“For me, it was disappointing, but it was also fuel to go again, keep improving and playing well. I have said many times the talent we have in this country is incredible, just being part of that and around those conversations is great for me.

“I was left out in March and we played Manchester United that evening and I played really well, so it gave me that extra bit of fuel going into the evening game. But it was definitely about keeping my head down and hopefully I can be in the manager’s plans in the future.”

View 3 Images

Scott still hopes to make the cut because Tuchel did admit he is effectively first reserve and he told “three or four” others in different positions to keep themselves available and “near the phone” just in case there are other injuries.

But Scott’s plans for the summer tell their own story about how much it would mean to him to get promoted to the squad.

He added: “I’d probably just go home and watch it with my friends, as I have done with the Euros in 2024 and the World Cup before that as well. I watched them with my friends.

“I am a massive England fan, so I’ll be with them and supporting the team. It would be nice to know I have been part of the group as well.”

England hopeful Alex Scott would not be the first player to put his summer plans on hold - and jet back to the World Cup. Back in 2002, Trevor Sinclair flew home from South Korea after being cut from the squad - only to do a U-turn as soon as he landed back at Heathrow.

Danny Murphy got injured, former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson got back on the phone and Sinclair rejoined the squad. Incredibly, Sinclair went on to make the starting line-up against Brazil in the quarter final only for it to end in heartbreak and defeat.

There was one other famous case when Rio Ferdinand got injured on the eve of the tournament and FIFA rules allow another player to be called up it is a fresh injury.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson flew straight out to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.