Overview
- Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Wednesday that Phil Foden was omitted from England’s final 26‑man squad for the 2026 World Cup and that the decision was not due to injury.
- Tuchel told reporters he wanted a balanced roster and deliberately avoided selecting too many traditional 'number 10' playmakers when finalising the squad.
- England coaches judged Foden’s 2025–26 club campaign at Manchester City—50 appearances with 10 goals and 7 assists—and his reduced starts under Pep Guardiola as weakening his case for selection.
- Foden was given chances in pre‑tournament friendlies against Uruguay and Japan but those performances did not change Tuchel’s assessment, with Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers chosen ahead of him.
- The omission is part of a wider, ruthless overhaul that also dropped other established names and could alter England’s squad balance and player careers as the team heads to North America.