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Phil Foden ‘not a guarantee’ to make England World Cup squad, says Tuchel

The head coach said of the midfielder, who failed to impress in the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan: ‘He was excellent in camp but struggles on the pitch’

David Hytner
David Hytner

April 1, 2026 · 2 min read

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Phil Foden ‘not a guarantee’ to make England World Cup squad, says Tuchel

Phil Foden ‘not a guarantee’ to make England World Cup squad, says Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel says Phil Foden is not assured of a place in his England squad for the World Cup finals in the summer after watching him struggle in the Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Tuchel has appeared unconvinced by Foden since taking charge at the beginning of last year but the head coach gave him a big opportunity in the starting lineup in each of the games during this past international window. Tuchel played him in the No 10 role in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay and as one of the No 10s alongside Cole Palmer in an experimental 4-2-4 in the 1-0 defeat by Japan. In both matches, Foden could get little going.

Related: On the plane or the sofa? How England’s 2026 World Cup squad is shaping up

Tuchel faces arguably his hardest decisions in terms of which No 10s to take to the World Cup. As well as Foden and Palmer, he has Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze can also play in the position.

Foden is one of the glamour names in English football, richly decorated from his nine seasons in the Manchester City first-team squad. But the 25-year-old has lost his place at City and could be set for World Cup heartbreak.

“Phil tried everything,” Tuchel said when assessing Foden’s performances against Uruguay and Japan. “I would say he was excellent in camp but he struggles to show it on the pitch. He didn’t have a lot of minutes for City recently. Then he came to camp with the brightest smile and was so good in training and I thought he will just surprise us and will play with the same verve and excitement. But, yeah, he struggles to have the full impact.”

It was put to Tuchel that he could not take a struggling player to the World Cup. “I can,” he replied, with a smile. “But the question would be if we will. It’s not a guarantee that he will come.”

Foden had started only once previously for Tuchel, in the head coach’s first match in March of last year against Albania. He has got on as a substitute under him three times.

For City he has started only twice in the Premier League since being taken off at half-time against Manchester United in mid-January and was an unused substitute in each leg of their Champions League last-16 exit against Real Madrid. He was an 89th-minute substitute in the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal. Foden has not scored since 14 December.

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