John Stones' World Cup return brings pure joy after career doubts in 2026

John Stones makes England's 2026 World Cup squad after considering retirement due to injuries.

England's squad selection surprise John Stones' inclusion in England's 2026 World Cup squad raised questions among observers, including possibly himself. The Manchester City defender admitted he had endured one of the toughest phases of his career before earning his spot in the 26-player roster. At 32 years old, Stones is poised to start in England's opening match against Croatia on Wednesday, despite revealing in October that he briefly thought about ending his international career following multiple injury setbacks. ## Overcoming career challenges Stones acknowledged the difficulties he faced when he made comments about retiring, expressing hope never to return to that mindset. He reflected on comparing his struggles to others, questioning why similar issues didn't affect them as much. "It was a difficult period when I said that [about retiring] and I hope I don’t get to that again," Stones shared in an interview. He emphasized the mental strength required to navigate those tough moments and emerge stronger, calling his ability to bounce back from setbacks one of his proudest achievements. ## Manager's confidence in the defender Thomas Tuchel has shown strong belief in Stones, selecting him ahead of defenders like Harry Maguire and Levi Colwill. The manager described Stones as a "big part" of his future plans and noted he has "a lot of credit in the bank." Stones confirmed he has been mostly fit throughout the season despite limited playing time—just 439 minutes in the Premier League and 18 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City. Earlier in the season, he missed two months due to a thigh injury and was unavailable for two England friendlies because of a calf issue. ## World Cup experience and future outlook This marks Stones' sixth major tournament with England, where he has helped the team reach the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the past two World Cups. Speaking about his emotions when selected, he described the moment as "pure joy," recalling the excitement of receiving the call from the manager. "I love being here and I think that goes without saying," Stones said, adding that Tuchel saw the younger, passionate side of him. He suggested that this quality, along with the team's ability to be themselves, is valued by the manager. ## Starting lineup decisions ahead Stones recently partnered Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa in England's latest friendly match and may be chosen over Manchester City teammate Marc Guehi for the Croatia game, kicking off at 21:00 BST on Wednesday. Stones announced in April that he will leave Manchester City this summer, yet he insists he has remained in good condition for much of the season. His selection underscores his importance to England's defensive options as they aim for success in the tournament opener.