England's squad for the 1950 World Cup contained 21 players. On 9 May, two squads (A and B) of 14 players each were announced for two separate tours. Of the 28 names, the following twelve did not make it to the final World Cup squad, announced 23 May: Bill Jones, Liverpool; Dicky Robinson, Middlesbrough; Redfern Froggatt, Sheffield Wednesday; Ray Middleton, Chesterfield; John Crosland, Blackpool; Jimmy Payne, Liverpool; Reg Lewis, Arsenal (a replacement for Len Shackleton, withdrawn by Sunderland, four days earlier); Jesse Pye, Wolverhampton Wanderers; Bobby Langton, Bolton Wanderers; Jackie Wright, Blackpool; Phil Taylor, Liverpool; and Eddie Quigley, Preston North End.

The five remaining members of the final squad, who were not named in the above A and B squads were Henry Cockburn, Ted Ditchburn, Laurie Hughes, Stan Matthews and Jim Taylor, who were all touring elsewhere, with the exception of Hughes, who had to withdraw from the A squad, because of injury, although later restored.