Kieran Trippier

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Kieran Trippier has retired from international football, definitively ending his prospects for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Newcastle United defender announced his retirement on August 29, 2024, at the age of 33, after earning 54 caps for England.

Trippier's international career included representing England in four major tournaments, notably reaching two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final. He was a key figure under former England manager Gareth Southgate, often playing out of his natural right-back position at left-back, particularly during Euro 2024 due to Luke Shaw's injury concerns. His only goal for his country came in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

In his retirement announcement, Trippier expressed gratitude to Southgate, his teammates, and the England fans, stating it had been "one of the biggest honours of my life to represent my country." His decision came shortly before Lee Carsley was set to announce his first England squad as interim coach.

At the club level, Trippier has been actively playing for Newcastle United. For the 2025-2026 season, he has made nine Premier League appearances with a rating of 6.8, and four Champions League appearances with a rating of 7.4. However, he has faced recent injury setbacks, including a hamstring injury in late 2025 that sidelined him for several weeks, with a targeted return around the new year. He also dealt with a calf injury in mid-2025, which raised concerns about his fitness for Euro 2024, though he ultimately declared himself "ready to go" for that tournament.

Despite some earlier media predictions including him in potential 2026 World Cup squads, his official retirement from international duty means he will not be considered for the tournament.