The likely omission would not come out of nowhere.
That matters because international tournament squads are usually shaped by timing as much as talent. Few would question Foden’s ability. The issue appears to be momentum. When a manager is making final calls, recent sharpness often counts more than reputation.
For Manchester City, the possible upside is obvious.
City’s best football has often relied on their leading attackers hitting rhythm early in the campaign. A complete summer with the club could give Foden a cleaner run-up than many of his team-mates who may be away on international duty. In a crowded modern calendar, that is not a small advantage.
None of this makes missing out feel positive for the player himself. Being left out of a World Cup squad would still be a major disappointment. But elite careers are rarely linear, and short-term frustration can sometimes create the space for a stronger restart.
The next step is the official announcement from Tuchel. After that, attention will shift quickly to whether an uninterrupted summer can help Foden re-establish himself as one of City’s central figures at the start of 2026-27.