England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted that the Three Lions will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as “underdogs,” warning that they have “no chance” of success unless they play with unity and purpose.
Thomas Tuchel, who took charge of the national team in January, believes England’s long wait for a World Cup trophy should keep expectations in check. The country has not won the competition since 1966, and its last appearance in the final four was nearly three decades ago.
“We will arrive as underdogs in the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades, and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time, so we need to arrive as a team; otherwise, we have no chance,” Tuchel said.
England are on the verge of qualifying for next year’s tournament in North America and can confirm their spot with a win over Latvia in Riga on Tuesday. Before then, they face Wales in a friendly that will allow Tuchel to take another look at his squad.
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Since replacing Gareth Southgate, the German coach has guided England to five wins in six matches, losing only to Senegal in a friendly. His contract runs until the end of the World Cup, with a clear goal set by the FA, to end the nation’s 59-year wait for a global crown.
Tuchel said his focus remains on building a cohesive group rather than relying solely on star names. “We try to collect the guys who in the end have the glue and cohesion to be the best team, because we need to arrive [at the World Cup] with the best team,” he said.
Naija News reports that Tuchel’s latest squad announcement surprised many, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden missing out, while Reece James is unavailable through injury. Captain Harry Kane will also sit out the Wales friendly due to a foot problem but is expected to return for the Latvia game.
Using a tennis comparison, Tuchel explained England’s current position in world football, saying: “If you’ve never won Wimbledon, you may be one of the favourites but you are not the favourite. You can go and if you come close, OK, you are within the pool, but you are not the favourite. It is just how it is. There is Brazil, there is Argentina, Spain, France and they just did it recently.”
Despite the daunting competition, Tuchel is confident that a united England can challenge the traditional powerhouses. “It doesn’t mean we have no chance and we know very well. First, we will qualify and then we will know exactly why we go there,” he said.
“Let’s go step by step and it just buys into the other step. We build a team that is ready to go step by step and play as a team, and hopefully, no one wants to play against us.
“When I hear people talking about their titles in international football or their missed chances, I always hear the same song: we have been a team or we haven’t been a team. It is always the same song in international football.”
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