England manager Thomas Tuchel has said Phil Foden does not have a guaranteed place in his World Cup squad.
The 25-year-old Manchester City player started both recent matches of the Three Lions. However, he failed to impress in a false nine role.
“… But he failed to fill the void left by striker Harry Kane’s absence,” Tuchel admitted. The experiment, however, did not yield results.
“Well, it’s not a guarantee that he will come,” the German said when asked directly.
Tuchel said Foden was “excellent” in training but “struggles to show it on the pitch”.
Selection pressure mounts as England finalise World Cup plans
Tuchel must submit his final squad to Fifa by 30 May, as England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in June.
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Foden has struggled for rhythm at club level as well, having started just four of Manchester City’s past 15 games. He has also not scored since December, ending a brief scoring streak.
Tuchel introduced Dominic Solanke to add structure during the Japan match. The change showed England’s need for a natural striker.
Competition for places remains intense, therefore Foden must now rediscover form quickly to secure his spot.
England’s attacking balance remains under scrutiny ahead of the tournament, and Tuchel’s decisions will go a long way to define their chances.
Tags: Thomas Tuchel, Phil Foden, false nine, 2026 World Cup, England, Three Lions, #MCFC, Manchester City.
