Harry Maguire’s absence from England’s 2026 World Cup roster didn’t stop the defender from stealing the spotlight. Away from the field, the Manchester United player surprised fans by spending time with them in New York, where he gave away stickers from the official Panini album.
Maguire, 33, suffered one of the biggest disappointments of his career when he was left off the final 26-man roster that will represent England at the World Cup—a decision that effectively ended his last chance to play in the tournament.
The defender himself acknowledged that he was informed of his exclusion via an awkward video call with head coach Thomas Tuchel.
However, the Englishman turned sadness into smiles during an unexpected appearance at Rockefeller Center in New York. Riding in a Panini van, Maguire handed out stickers from the official album to children and fans, who reacted with surprise upon discovering that it was the player himself handing out the cards.
According to The Sun, the defender traveled to the United States after accepting an invitation as a special guest on Gary Lineker’s podcast “The Rest is Football”, available on Netflix.
The visit also left a message for those who came to greet him. In an Instagram Story, Maguire posed alongside several fans and wrote: “It’s always a pleasure to see fans from all over the world.”
Although his name won’t appear on England’s roster for the 2026 World Cup, Harry Maguire found a different way to take center stage and give an unforgettable moment to the fans who were lucky enough to run into him on the streets of New York.
