Sidelined Aspinall bonds with Foden over shared absence from US sporting spotlight

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has found an unlikely companion in his frustration: Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, who was left out of England’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States. The pair recently met and bonded over their shared absence from high-profile events currently taking place across the Atlantic.

Aspinall (15-3) has been sidelined since suffering an eye injury during his first title defence against Ciryl Gane. With the champion unavailable, Gane is set to face Alex Pereira for an interim UFC heavyweight title in the co-main event of the UFC White House card on Sunday. Aspinall was not invited to attend the event — an unusual omission given that reigning champions typically appear at interim title bouts in their division.

Foden’s situation carries its own sting. The 25-year-old playmaker was passed over by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup squad, meaning he too will be watching from home as a major tournament unfolds without him.

The path back for Aspinall is complicated by more than just his injury. Should Pereira defeat Gane, a title-unification bout between the two would be the logical next step — but Pereira has already indicated he will not wait for Aspinall to recover before pursuing his own ambitions. Adding further uncertainty, Pereira’s manager Eddie Hearn, who has a well-documented rivalry with UFC president Dana White, has stated he will not allow Aspinall to fight under the terms of his current UFC contract.

For now, Aspinall remains on the sidelines with no confirmed return date, his title reign in a holding pattern while the division moves around him.