Phil Foden entered Euro 2024, England’s last major tournament, as the standout player in the Premier League, trailing only Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, and Alexander Isak in scoring. However, two years later, he finds himself struggling for playing time at Manchester City—let alone goals—making him fortunate to be included in the England squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
In his opportunity to shine against Uruguay on Friday, Foden spent much of his 56 minutes on the field lingering in a lackluster game. He looked distressed as he exited—partly due to a reckless tackle by Ronald Araújo that left him on the ground, but also perhaps with the sense that the World Cup might be slipping from his grasp.
The reality is that, with three months remaining, Foden’s place on the squad for the upcoming tournament is in jeopardy.
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Foden’s recent form is illustrated starkly in his participation during crucial matches for City this month, where he managed just one minute of action across three important games—two against Real Madrid and the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. His brief appearance from the bench was labeled a “charity sub” by former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
Rooney remarked, “[Foden] will be happy about the cup win, but from a personal standpoint, he would have preferred to be on the field making a difference. That’s a tough pill for him to swallow.”
There was a time in November and December when Foden scored eight goals in nine matches, suggesting a return to the form that earned him the PFA and Premier League Player of the Year awards for the 2023-24 season. He attributes his disappointing 2024-25 season to an ankle injury and some off-pitch distractions, though it’s uncertain why this season has been so inconsistent.
During the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, Foden expressed his renewed “hunger” for the game, declaring it a “new start, new me” for the upcoming season. While he’s shown glimpses of his former self—such as scoring against Manchester United in September and netting a last-minute winner against Leeds United in November—consistency has eluded him.
Foden has occasionally been tasked with playing in a deeper role this season, which has diminished his ability to affect games through goals and assists. The strong performances of Rayan Cherki have also contributed to this situation. However, when discussing Foden, Guardiola often returns to a consistent theme.
According to the City manager, Foden’s success hinges on his happiness and relaxation. The implication is clear that it hasn’t always been the case. “I have zero doubts about Phil,” Guardiola affirmed in February. “It wasn’t long ago that he was the best player in the Premier League. This is Phil Foden. He just needs to be relaxed, joyful, and play.”
Guardiola has noticed signs that Foden’s passion for football—a feeling that had waned at times previously—is starting to return. After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Arsenal in September, he allowed the team to self-evaluate their physical fitness and solicited volunteers for a League Cup match against Huddersfield three days later. Foden eagerly volunteered.
Nonetheless, since being substituted at halftime during a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in January, Foden has only started two Premier League games. In a recent match against Nottingham Forest, his defensive lapses allowed Elliot Anderson to equalize in a 2-2 draw, severely impacting City’s title aspirations.
In the wake of his limited role during the Carabao Cup final, Foden remains optimistic. “Football isn’t always straightforward,” he reflected. “There are ups and downs, and you can’t always be at your best. It’s about how you bounce back.”
“I’m keeping my head down and training hard every day, hoping to return from the international break sharper. I want to earn more minutes and get back to my early-season form.”
Foden has shown resilience before, having been sidelined during City’s treble-winning season and not starting in either the Champions League or FA Cup finals. He rebounded from that disappointment to have the best season of his career the following year.
A similarly robust comeback will be necessary for him to secure a spot on the plane to the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel has numerous options for the No.10 role, with Foden competing against Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, and Palmer. Although he might be able to play on the wing, he struggled in that capacity during Euro 2024, and Tuchel seems to favor more natural wingers like Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, or Marcus Rashford.
Tuchel is known for clearly outlining the competition between players. If it comes down to Foden versus Palmer for the final No.10 position, Palmer made a strong case against Uruguay by creating a key chance for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and assisting Ben White‘s goal from a corner.
Tuchel will conduct further evaluations in the match against Japan on Wednesday, but with Bellingham and Rogers returning to the squad, Foden faces increased competition. Time is of the essence for him.