Phil Foden receives Thomas Tuchel call on England’s 26-man FIFA World Cup squad list | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Phil Foden will not be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this summer, having been excluded from Thomas Tuchel’s squad list.

Just two days after City’s agonising 1-1 draw at Bournemouth to mathematically surrender the Premier League trophy to Arsenal, fans have been dealt a secondary sporting blow.

With Pep Guardiola also set for an emotional final match against Aston Villa on Sunday, despite suggestions of showdown talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak over his future, a major international omission adds a new layer of drama in media reporting.

The realisation that Foden will now spend the summer months on vacation rather than representing the Three Lions’ Group L campaign against Croatia, Panama, and Ghana acts as one of the major talking points in Thomas Tuchel’s definitive selection.

Phil Foden receives England’s World Cup decision

The information comes according to The Times’ Paul Hirst among various other sources on Thursday evening, revealing that Manchester City’s Phil Foden has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man World Cup squad list for the North America tournament this summer.

The justification underpinning Tuchel’s decision points directly toward an inability to select Foden may also stem from the exemplary performances from direct competitors for the midfield positions.

Why Foden has not been selected for England

Phil Foden has often struggled to impose his talents on international tournament football, and the England manager will point out that there is simply no room for profiles who have endured the sort of physical fatigue and difficulty in consistent showings over the last few months.

The decision may also impact City’s pre-season and summer training, and instead of facing the challenge of the United States, Mexico, and Canada-based tournament, Foden will now be granted an extended rest period before returning to duties at the City Football Academy.

While the player will likely be disappointed by the national team decision, it could provide Enzo Maresca – who is expected to become Manchester City’s new manager this summer – with a fully recharged, highly motivated player determined to reclaim his status as the club’s leading creative force.