Trevoh Chalobah was in New York when he received the life-changing news. Thomas Tuchel had tried to reach him, but the message took some time to get through. Chalobah, who was enjoying a stroll around Times Square, only realised what was happening once he returned to his hotel and saw the missed message. His holiday was about to be cut short — he was joining England’s World Cup 2026 squad.

“My heart just dropped,” the defender recalled. “When I saw the message, he asked if I was free for a call, and I said yes. We spoke on FaceTime, and he told me the news. I was absolutely over the moon.” Chalobah became England’s 27th man, stepping in after Tino Livramento was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. The Newcastle full-back’s setback opened the door for Chalobah to fulfil his dream.

He vividly remembered his first reaction. “I called my family, then my agent. It was really early morning, so I texted him, saying, ‘Wake up, wake up,’” he said with a laugh. “He thought I was in trouble or something.”

In reality, it was quite the opposite — a moment of redemption. Initially, Tuchel had been the bearer of bad news, informing Chalobah that he had missed out on the initial squad selection. Yet, there was a glimmer of hope. “He said, ‘You’re close,’” Chalobah remembered. “I was disappointed not to make it, but he also told me, ‘Stay ready.’”

And he did stay ready. His choice of holiday destination turned out to be fitting — New York, the city where England will take on Panama, and potentially the venue for the World Cup final. Chalobah kept himself in shape with training sessions in the city alongside his personal trainer. However, he had given away his boots at the end of the season and had to make an urgent request to his sponsors for a new pair.

He was also trying to unwind. “Before New York, I was in Monaco for the F1 weekend, then I went to Cannes,” he said. “I was just enjoying my holiday, and then on Saturday, I flew out to New York.” His plan had been to continue across the United States, with Los Angeles as his next stop. “I’m still checking if my hotel in California is refundable,” he smiled. “I’m trying to get my money back.”

Even if he doesn’t, Chalobah is unlikely to mind. He has achieved something he has dreamed of for years. Back in 2018, while on loan at League One side Ipswich Town, a teenage Chalobah had posted a photo of himself with the World Cup trophy along with the caption, “One day.” Now, eight years later, that dream has come true. “It’s always been my dream,” he reflected. “That day, I decided to tweet it.”

He hopes that his first appearance in the tournament could come against Ghana in Boston. Chalobah says he feels ready. As part of his preparation, he even played padel for two hours with Ivan Toney and Ezri Konsa — and proudly reported that he won. Konsa, a fellow defender, is also competing for a place in the lineup. While Chalobah’s versatility is well known, Tuchel has told him that he views him primarily as a right-sided centre-back.

Tuchel knows Chalobah better than most. “We’ve always had a fun, banter-filled relationship, and I love it,” Chalobah said. The German manager had given him his first appearances for both Chelsea and England and had even tried to bring him to Bayern Munich. “We’ve always shared a special bond.”

Not everyone has always been convinced of Chalobah’s potential. At times, he found himself on the fringes at Chelsea, with club owners viewing academy graduates as potential profit sources under PSR constraints. But Chalobah has repeatedly fought his way back into contention. He made 47 appearances last season and is now looking forward to working under Xabi Alonso. Although he hasn’t spoken to the Spaniard yet, he believes Alonso will appreciate his resilience and determination — qualities that have defined his career.

“I love my career. I love everything I’ve experienced,” he said. “It’s not just about football; it’s about life. There will always be ups and downs, and it’s never smooth sailing, but for me, I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Getting his World Cup call-up, he admitted, ranks as “No 1” in his career so far. The joy was even sweeter because it came after the disappointment of missing out initially. “That’s the beautiful part of it,” he smiled. “When you least expect it and get a call like that, it shows that when you think something’s lost, or it’s not going to happen — that tweet I posted really did come true.”