Ben White has received his first England call-up since November 2022 after replacing the injured Jarell Quansah in Thomas Tuchel’s squad to face Uruguay and Japan, with Harvey Barnes also receiving an inclusion in place of Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal defender White has not featured for the Three Lions since he left their camp during the Qatar World Cup after an alleged bust-up with then-assistant Steve Holland.
He later told head coach Gareth Southgate he did not want to be included for selection in the lead-up to Euro 2024 while current boss Thomas Tuchel first spoke to him ahead of naming his first squad last February, before eventually returning him to the fold more than a year later.
White himself revealed at the end of last season he had made himself available to Tuchel following their discussions, saying in May 2025: “I’m definitely available. I spoke to him a few times.
“[Tuchel] is such a nice, nice man – very honest. I haven’t been back for too long. So it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in.”
The right-back played the whole of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City but has made only seven Premier League appearances this season, totalling just 411 minutes overall.
Barnes earns a call-up in place of White’s injured Arsenal team-mate Eze barely a month after turning down the opportunity to play for Scotland ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
The Newcastle winger, who would have qualified for Steve Clarke’s side through his maternal grandparents, has one previous cap for England, featuring against Wales in a friendly in October 2020.
Clarke revealed the 28-year-old had chosen to focus on regaining his place in the Three Lions’ set up following February’s Nations League draw, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “This time I can say for sure, Harvey’s going to concentrate on trying to play for England, he’s not going to come to Scotland.
“You can put that one out there. Nobody needs to ask me or Harvey about it any more. Am I disappointed? No, listen, Harvey can make up his own mind. We move on.”
Analysis: White remains World Cup long shot despite reconciliation
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:
Ben White’s return to the England fold is a welcome boost for the Arsenal defender, a day after his Wembley disappointment in the Carabao Cup Final, but he remains a long shot for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
It is three-and-a-half years since White was last involved with England, when he left the World Cup in Qatar because of personal reasons, after just two matches. Following a disagreement with the then assistant manager, Steve Holland, he declined a call up by Gareth Southgate for the Spring international break in March 2024.
Tuchel has spoken to White a number of times since taking over, and has repeatedly said the full back remains in his thoughts. But despite a return to some form and fitness for Arsenal this season (he has had 15 starts in all competitions) his inclusion this time is a pragmatic decision from the England head coach.
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Sky Sports senior reporter Rob Dorsett rounded up the best of Thomas Tuchel’s news conference as he named his squad to face Uruguay and Japan
Tuchel, remember, named 35 players in his original squad announcement on Friday, and he could have asked Nico O’Reilly (or Ezri Konsa, or even Marc Guehi) to join up earlier than planned to cover the full back position – all three are scheduled to attend from Saturday morning (along with eight other players) so that they can have a rest from their hectic domestic schedules before working towards the second friendly, against Japan, next Tuesday
But the England boss is determined to stick with his plan for two separate camps, and so with Jarrel Quansah and Ebere Eze withdrawing from the first group, that left him with only 18 outfield players for Friday night’s friendly against Uruguay – and only three full backs. Hence the call to White (and also to Harvey Barnes).
It is a further blow to Trent Alexander-Arnold who was a surprise omission from the original 35-man list, and who has been overlooked again when Tuchel needs a right back. It is now very difficult to see how the Real Madrid man could be involved in the World Cup in North America this summer.
