Tuchel weighs Palmer recall and Foden return for final 2026 squad

Thomas Tuchel will confirm his final England squad of 2026 on Friday, with selection questions over Cole Palmer's inclusion and whether Phil Foden has done enough for a recall, according to Sky Sports Football and Guardian Football.

Palmer's performances for Chelsea make him an obvious candidate for a place, Sky Sports Football reports, though the outlet questions whether Tuchel has lost patience with the forward after previous spells out of the squad.

Foden has not featured for England since being overlooked for last summer's World Cup and has also missed this season's Nations League fixtures under Tuchel.

The Manchester City attacker made clear he wants back in. “Hopefully, one day the call-up might come back. It’s one of those things [being dropped]. Football is full of ups and downs. You have to try your best, keep putting on performances,” he told Guardian Football.

Speaking to Yahoo Sports on the eve of City's Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig, Foden confirmed he had not been in touch with the head coach since being left out. “No, I haven’t really spoken to him to be honest, so not much to say on that,” he said.

Guardian Football noted that Friday's squad may come too soon for Foden regardless of his ambitions, with the forthcoming round of Nations League fixtures the immediate focus.

His case is built on an improved run of form. Foden returned from a three-match suspension, picked up for a red card against Manchester United, to score against Ipswich Town, then added a hat-trick against AEK Athens in the Champions League last month.

City have lost only twice in matches where Foden has been part of the squad this season, both Premier League defeats, to Aston Villa and to Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside a separate Community Shield loss to Arsenal at the start of the campaign.

Competition for the number 10 role at City remains intense, with Foden, Rayan Cherki and Enzo Fernandez all used there under Enzo Maresca, according to Yahoo Sports, which reported that some City supporters view Fernandez as better suited to a deeper role alongside Elliot Anderson or Ayyoub Bouaddi.

England's own route through the World Cup ended at the semi-final stage, with Anthony Gordon's early goal against Argentina cancelled out by Enzo Fernandez before Lautaro Martinez scored a stoppage-time winner.

Marc Guehi, Elliot Anderson and James Trafford were all involved in that tournament for England, with Trafford subsequently leaving Manchester City for Leeds United once the competition finished.

Tuchel's announcement on Friday will show whether Palmer retains his place and whether Foden's upturn in form is enough to earn an immediate route back into the squad.