England have been dealt a major setback ahead of their World Cup campaign, with Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento ruled out of the tournament due to a calf injury. Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has been called up as his replacement.
Livramento, 23, sustained the injury during a training session on Sunday, just days before England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (21:00 BST). His participation in the tournament had already been uncertain after he missed the final five weeks of the club season with a thigh problem.
Chalobah, who has one senior England cap, will not join the squad until after the Croatia fixture. The 26-year-old is travelling to England's training base in Kansas City while the rest of the squad heads to Dallas for their opening match.
He could feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MLS side Sporting Kansas City, a match England are reportedly discussing as preparation between the Croatia clash and their second Group L fixture against Ghana next Tuesday.
Under FIFA regulations, outfield players who suffer a serious injury or illness can be replaced in a World Cup squad up to 24 hours before their nation's opening match.
Livramento, who made his England debut under Gareth Southgate in November 2024, earned five appearances under Thomas Tuchel, including two starts. He came on at half-time during England's 1-0 warm-up victory over New Zealand but remained an unused substitute in the subsequent friendly against Costa Rica.
England's right-back options have also been affected by concerns over the fitness of first-choice defender Reece James. The Chelsea captain endured another injury-disrupted season, missing nine matches at the end of the campaign with a hamstring problem.
Other defensive alternatives already in the squad include Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa. Spence, capable of playing on either flank, has made six appearances under Tuchel, while Konsa, primarily a centre-back, has featured 11 times, including nine starts.
Chalobah has not represented England since playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal in June 2025, although he remained involved in Tuchel's plans and was named on the bench for several World Cup qualifiers. Like Konsa, his preferred role is at centre-back.
For Chalobah, the call-up also completes a personal dream. On the day of the 2018 World Cup final, then aged 19, he posted a simple message on social media: "One day #Believe."
Eight years later, that belief has earned him a place on football's biggest stage.
