PFA Chief Says Foden Missed England World Cup Spot Due to Fixture Schedule

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden was omitted from England's squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America. PFA chief executive Maheta Molango said the decision followed a season in which Foden's availability and performance levels declined. Molango, who also sits on the Fifpro board, linked the drop-off to the volume of fixtures.

He stated that Foden had played fewer matches than in prior seasons and had not shown the same form when available. "The number of games that he's been available for has dropped and, when he has been available, it has not been the version of Phil Foden we saw two years ago," Molango said.

Fifpro data showed Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice appeared in 36 of Arsenal's 38 Premier League matches and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk played in all 38 of Liverpool's league games. Both players are expected to feature in the expanded 48-team tournament.

Molango warned that some players could reach a point where the accumulated workload becomes unsustainable before the World Cup begins. "You cannot go into a competition having already played 60, or close to 60, games," he said.