Two years ago, leaving Cole Palmer and Phil Foden off England's World Cup squad would have seemed unthinkable. Both players are now expected to miss the tournament entirely, as coach Thomas Tuchel has made clear that form, not reputation, guides his selections.
Foden, 25, and Palmer, 24, came up through the Manchester City academy a year apart and were widely seen as the core of England's attacking future. Foden started the Euro 2024 final against Spain. Palmer came off the bench in that match and scored. Both were award winners that season. Palmer took home England's men's player of the year and the PFA young player of the year. Foden won the senior PFA award. The pair collected their trophies at the Opera House in Manchester.
According to the BBC, their omissions now reflect how quickly form can deteriorate in the sport. Palmer scored 37 Premier League goals across his first two seasons at Chelsea, but this season he managed nine goals in 25 appearances without the same consistency that had defined his earlier performances. Foden netted 19 Premier League goals and 27 in all competitions during the 2023-24 season, but his output dropped sharply this year. He went on a run of six goals in five games just before Christmas, which raised hopes of a return, but he has not scored since.
His backheel assist against Crystal Palace earlier this month stood out as an exception in an otherwise quiet stretch of performances. With several players competing for the number 10 role, Tuchel had no reason to pick based on past accomplishments.
A key moment in Foden's omission came in March during England's match against Uruguay, where his display was described as ineffectual. That game appeared to confirm Tuchel's direction. Palmer, meanwhile, never fully recaptured the form that made him a standout during his first seasons at Chelsea after leaving Manchester City, where he had been considered surplus to requirements.
Both players had been seen as certain starters heading into a tournament cycle that will bring the World Cup to the United States in 2026. Their absence leaves England's attacking midfield in the hands of players who have been more consistent this season, as Tuchel builds a squad around current form rather than the names that defined the previous era under Gareth Southgate.
