England boss Thomas Tuchel casts doubt over Phil Foden’s World Cup hopes

The 25-year-old was the only player to start both games in the final camp before the coach makes his selection, playing him as a number 10 in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay before using him as a false nine in the loss to Japan.

Thomas Tuchel gave Phil Foden the chance to impress in March (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Thomas Tuchel admits Phil Foden is not guaranteed to be in England’s World Cup squad having struggled to make an impact in March’s friendlies.

The 25-year-old was the only player to start both games in the final camp before the coach makes his selection, playing him as a number 10 in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay before using him as a false nine against Japan.

England lost 1-0 on Tuesday and Foden was ineffective in place of Harry Kane, with his failure to impress in either audition on top of a challenging time at Manchester City raising questions over his place on the plane.

Phil Foden was the only player to start both friendlies (John Walton/PA)

Asked whether the 49-cap forward had taken his opportunity, Tuchel said after an intake of breath: “He tried everything. I would say he was excellent in camp but, yeah, he struggles to show it on the pitch.

“Obviously 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.”

Foden, as he has acknowledged in the past, has rarely taken his City form on to the international stage, even on the run to the Euro 2024 final fresh from collecting the PFA and FWA player awards.

Now he faces intense competition for a spot at a time when his club form and minutes have dipped, leading Tuchel to be asked if he can take someone to the World Cup who is struggling to perform on the pitch.

“I can, I can,” he said with a laugh. “The question would be if we will.”

Put to Tuchel it places doubts against Foden, he added: “Well, it’s not a guarantee that he will come.”

Tuchel has shown since taking charge that he is not afraid to overlook big-name players, with Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold the highest profile absentee this time around.

Thomas Tuchel has plenty to think about over the coming weeks (John Walton/PA)

The England boss has eight weeks to pore over the decision with Foden and others having gained “more clarity” about the composition of his World Cup squad during March’s bumpy, experimental camp.

“I learn all the time,” Tuchel said. “I learn from every training session, and I learn from how the squad is together and I learn from how the players react to the gameplan and how they adapt.

“How quick they can learn and how quick they can adapt and how they can put it on the pitch. Everything is a learning.”

Tuchel is confident March “will not define us” and say they “will not start doubting” on the back of what was always going to be a complicated camp given the level of fatigue, injuries and opposition.

Thomas Tuchel provides his thoughts following tonight's fixture 💭

— England (@England) March 31, 2026

England have yet to beat a side in FIFA’s top 20 since he took over, with March’s results perhaps providing a reality check for a side considered among the World Cup favourites.

“We will not let go of our dream, we will not let go of the question ‘why not?’” added Tuchel, who has previously said they will be World Cup “underdogs”.

“Now the most important thing is that the players reintegrate with their clubs, have a good end of the season, and then we have them in pre-camp and prepare them properly and take steps from there.”