'Ticks the boxes' - Why Ivan Toney deserves England nod for FIFA World Cup

If Ivan Toney’s recall to the England national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a surprise to fans and pundits of the Three Lions, it was also a shock - initially - to the man who selected him, Thomas Tuchel.

Toney had barely featured for Tuchel since the German took charge of England in October 2024, but as he and his coaching staff ruminated over names for their 26-player squad, they kept coming back to the Al Ahli hotshot.

"[His inclusion was] also a bit of a surprise to us,” Tuchel said when announcing the England group for the tournament in North America, which kicks off on Thursday. "When it came down to all different kinds of scenarios, he was back in the picture.

"We could see that he still collects the numbers; he has very special skills that could help us, in the situations, scenarios when we’re chasing a result.”

While, presumably, Toney won’t lead the line for England - they have arguably the greatest No.9 in the business for that - there’s no doubt he can be an influential member of the team.

“[Ivan] can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane,” Tuchel added. “He can be present in the box when we’re pushing for a goal… because he has a presence.

“Harry loves to play with him, because he thinks that he takes the attention off him. He is even more of an old-school No.9 than Harry himself.

"[Ivan] can take attention off other strikers; he has a natural presence within the box; he’s a natural finisher; he can help us with set-pieces. He’s very strong in there, very good in using his body and, not to forget, he is a world-class penalty taker.

“He ticks some boxes that we wanted to be ticked."

Toney’s recall comes off the back of a year to remember. Almost a perfect year, in fact.

Last month, the Al Ahli striker became only the third player in the Saudi Pro League era to break the magical 30-goal barrier in the Roshn Saudi League, finishing the campaign with 32 goals.

Actually, it took a hat-trick from Al Qadsiah’s Julian Quinones on the final matchday to deny Toney the 2025-26 golden boot - by a solitary goal.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli backed up their historic continental success of last season to go back-to-back in the AFC Champions League Elite, in the process becoming the first team to do so in more than two decades.

Across all competitions, Toney bagged 42 goals and recorded 11 assists in 49 fixtures. Also, when comparing simply RSL performances, he boasted an even better shot conversion (34 percent) than Kane at Bayern Munich (32%). Kane, of course, is often regarded as the finest striker at present in international football.

Yet Toney’s Al Ahli form has precipitated perhaps the biggest achievement of all: a participating place at his first World Cup.

“Childhood dream come true,” he shared on Instagram.

While reaction to Toney’s selection back in England may have been mixed purely because he plays in the RSL, among his club teammates and compatriots, it’s been universally welcomed.

Al Ahli’s Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez, who himself will play at a first global finals with Brazil after earning a recall of his own, replied to Toney’s post with: “You deserved it bro.”

That was championed by Al Ahli colleague Merih Demiral, while former Al Ettifaq captain and current England international Jordan Henderson replied with a clapping emoji. One of England’s greatest ever, Wayne Rooney, also lauded the selection.

Toney is, evidently, loved among his teammates, a fact Tuchel referenced when discussing his selection.

“Off the pitch, he is glue,” the former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager, said. “He is someone who connects with everyone very, very well.”

Tuchel explained also that a glowing recommendation from Al Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle, a former player of his from the Stuttgart youth teams, played a role in changing his mind on Toney.

It proved crucial, given the ex-Brentford frontman hadn’t featured under Tuchel in more than 12 months since a small cameo off the bench, last June, against Senegal.

"I had fantastic feedback from his club coach, who was my player, and I have a close connection with him,” Tuchel imparted. “Always fantastic feedback about [Ivan’s] role there, about his ability, his fitness."

It’s just reward for what has been one of the best individual seasons in RSL history. Toney’s 39 goal contributions is the second-highest of any player in the SPL era, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 46 from the 2023-24 season.

As mentioned, that goal conversion rate of 34% was significantly higher than any other player in the 2025-26 RSL, while Toney was the only one of the top five goalscorers to finish the season with fewer than 100 shot attempts - proof of his efficiency and effectiveness in front of goal.

Ultimately, that goalscoring instinct is what won over Tuchel and earned Toney a cherished national-team berth at footballs - if not sport’s - showpiece event.

“Would he be a player you would like the ball to fall to if there is a ricochet in the box? Yes. Absolutely,” the man tasked with guiding England to a second world title, and first in 60 years, remarked before handing Toney 45 minutes in Saturday's World Cup warm-up with New Zealand.

“Would he be the player that you want to have this touch? Does he take, with his presence, the attention off other strikers? Yes. And we try to build a strong set-piece squad. He can have his role there, defensively and offensively.”

When laid out like that, perhaps the only surprise is that Toney’s inclusion came as a surprise at all.