Trevoh Chalobah was in New York when he learnt he was going to be a part of it. But when Thomas Tuchel tried to spread the news, it was delayed. Chalobah was in Times Square. It was not until he got back to his hotel that he found out that Tuchel had been in touch. Chalobah’s holiday was about to be curtailed. He was going to join England’s World Cup 2026 squad.
“My heart just dropped,” explained the defender. “When I saw the message, he asked if I was free to call, and I said yes. We spoke on FaceTime and he broke the news to me. I was just over the moon.” Chalobah became England’s 27th man, the beneficiary of Tino Livramento’s misfortune. When the Newcastle full-back was ruled out of the tournament, Chalobah took his place.
He remembered his reaction. “I just called my family, called my agent. It was early morning, so I texted my agent and said, ‘wake up, wake up’,” he said. “He thought I was in trouble or something.”
Instead, it was the opposite, just as it had been when Tuchel was in contact. The England manager had been the dispenser of bad news initially. Chalobah did not make the initial cut. And yet there was hope. “He said, ‘you’re close’,” he recalled. “I was disappointed that I didn’t make it but he did say, ‘stay ready’”.
Chalobah stayed close, too. His was an opportune choice of holiday destination; the city where England will face Panama, where perhaps they will play a World Cup final. Chalobah was keeping in shape. He did sessions in New York and had his own personal trainer. But he had given away his boots at the end of the season and had to fast-track his requests with his sponsors for a new pair.
But he was also trying to switch off. “Before New York, I was in Monaco for the F1 – I went there for that weekend – then I went to Cannes,” he said. Just enjoying my holiday, and then I flew out on a Saturday to New York.” He had planned to cross America. Los Angeles was due to be his next destination. He is still checking if his hotel in California is refundable. “I am still trying to get my money back,” he smiled.
Even if he doesn’t, he may accept that. Chalobah has realised an ambition. In 2018, when a teenager who had joined League One Ipswich on loan, he posted a message on social media with a picture of himself and the World Cup and a caption of “one day”. Eight years on, he reflected: “It has always been a dream and that day I decided to tweet it.”
He hopes that day could come against Ghana in Boston. He is ready to be involved. Part of his bid to get him sharp involved playing padel with Ivan Toney and Ezri Konsa for two hours. Chalobah won, he reported. Konsa is a rival for a spot: while the 26-year-old is versatile, Tuchel has told him he sees his role as a right-sided centre-back.
And Tuchel knows him better than most. “We have that really fun, banterous relationship and I love it,” said Chalobah. His first appearances for both Chelsea and England came under the German. Tuchel wanted to take him to Bayern Munich, too. “We’ve always had that special relationship.”
Others have not always been as convinced of Chalobah’s merits. He has spent time in the Chelsea bomb squad, their owners seeing a product of their academy as a chance to make pure profit in the age of PSR. But he has always clawed his way back into contention. He made 47 appearances last season. He hopes to play a part under Xabi Alonso, too. He has yet to speak to the Spaniard. But Alonso should appreciate the fighting spirit of a player who has always responded to setbacks.
“I love my career. I love what I’ve been through,” said Chalobah. “It’s all part of not just football, but going through life as a person; there are always going to be ups and downs, it’s never going to be smooth, but for me, I’ve loved every minute.”
Getting his World Cup call was, he said, “No 1” in that career so far. Even more so because it followed the disappointment of not making the initial 26. “I think that is the beautiful thing about it,” he smiled. “When you didn’t expect it and to get a call like that shows that when you think all is lost or it’s not going to happen, that tweet I had came true.”
