Chilwell's World Cup Dream: A 'Middle Finger' to Doubters

Former Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell harbors aspirations of featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, seeing it as a powerful way to silence critics. After being relegated to Chelsea's 'bomb squad' upon Enzo Maresca's arrival, Chilwell sought a move to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in January 2025. This transfer has allowed him to regain consistent playing time and work towards recapturing his peak performance. Chilwell feels motivated by the prospect of proving his doubters wrong, describing it as a "middle finger" to those who wrote him off.

The left-back's ambition extends to representing England once again. He revealed having conversations with England manager Thomas Tuchel, his former Chelsea coach, who has indicated that a national team recall is not out of the question. Chilwell, at 28, believes he is in his prime and eager to achieve significant goals, with the World Cup being a major ambition. He missed the 2022 World Cup due to a hamstring injury.

Chilwell's immediate focus is on performing well for Strasbourg and staying healthy. He acknowledges that while the World Cup is a significant goal, his primary objective is to enjoy his football. He stated that if he gives his all but doesn't achieve his World Cup dream, it won't be the end of the world, as he will still be only 29 and enjoying his game.