England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted that Phil Foden does not have a guaranteed place in the national team’s World Cup squad following his recent dip in form.
Foden found it difficult to make an impact while playing in an unfamiliar attacking role during England’s 1-0 friendly loss to the Japan national football team on Tuesday, particularly in the absence of Harry Kane.
Despite starting the season brightly, the 25-year-old has also seen limited game time under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in recent weeks, which Tuchel believes has affected his sharpness on the pitch.
“He tried everything. I would say he was excellent in camp but, yeah, he struggles to show it on the pitch,” Tuchel said. “He came into camp with the brightest energy and trained very well, but he hasn’t been able to translate that into performances during matches.”
Foden has often struggled to replicate his club form at international level, including during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, where expectations were high following his standout performances for Manchester City.
Not our night, but plenty to learn from ahead of an exciting summer.
Thank you for your support throughout this camp, #ThreeLions fans ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4LdsgDTvyJ
— England (@England) March 31, 2026
Competition for attacking midfield roles remains fierce, with players like Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers all pushing for places in the squad. Tuchel acknowledged the challenge, stating that selection decisions will be based strictly on form and impact.
“It’s not a guarantee that he will come,” Tuchel added when asked about including underperforming players in the squad for the tournament in North America.
The defeat to Japan marked only Tuchel’s second loss in 12 games as England boss. However, his side is still searching for a statement victory, having yet to beat a team ranked in FIFA’s top 20 during his tenure.
Following a 1-1 draw against Uruguay national football team last week, Tuchel remained optimistic about England’s chances of ending their long wait for a major trophy since 1966.
“We will not let go of our dream, we will not let go of the question ‘why not?’” he said. “Right now, the focus is on players finishing the season strongly with their clubs before regrouping to prepare properly.”