With Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland's spot on the plane to Russia looking fairly set in stone, and Hart reportedly having been dropped, Pope's shot at a World Cup position is looking increasingly viable.
England boss Gareth Southgate is required to announce his preliminary squad for the tournament on Wednesday, but there remains a degree of uncertainty over which goalkeeping options he will select.
Pope gained his starting spot at Burnley after former first-choice Tom Heaton picked up a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the season, and the 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength.
He told reporters: ''At the start of the season you're looking at being number two goalkeeper and possibly getting a handful of games over a season so it's something I couldn't even dream about then.''
''But as I sit here I've got maybe half a chance of getting on the plane and going to Russia, which would be a massive achievement in itself, let alone playing.''
''If I hadn't made the squad in March I would be sitting here thinking I've got a very small chance but to make that squad gave me a little bit of hope. Fingers crossed something comes but if not I get to enjoy my holidays feeling fresh and ready to go again.''
Given that Hart is rumoured to have been dropped by Southgate in recent days, Pope's ''half-chance'' to compete on the global stage, just got significantly greater.