Thomas Tuchel: England to Enter 2026 World Cup as Underdogs

Thomas Tuchel: England to Enter 2026 World Cup as Underdogs

Thomas Tuchel: England to Enter 2026 World Cup as Underdogs

Thomas Tuchel believes that England will enter the 2026 World Cup as "underdogs" and emphasizes that they have "no chance" of success unless they unite as a cohesive team.

Despite reaching consecutive European Championship finals, England has not progressed past the semi-finals in a World Cup since their victory in 1966.

The Three Lions, who were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, can secure qualification for next year’s tournament in North America by defeating Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.

"We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven't won it for decades, and we will be facing teams that have repeatedly claimed the title during that time. Therefore, we need to come together as a team; otherwise, we have no chance," Tuchel stated.

Discussing his team selection for the current international break, he remarked, "We aim to gather players who can create the glue and cohesion needed to form the best team, as we must arrive at the World Cup with our strongest squad."

Since taking charge of England in January, Tuchel has led the team to five victories in six matches, with his only loss occurring in a friendly against Senegal.

The German coach has worked with his players through three training camps and has two remaining before the World Cup.

Tuchel was awarded an 18-month contract, with the primary objective of guiding England to World Cup success. "If you've never won Wimbledon, you may be considered one of the favorites, but you are not the favorite," he explained.

"You can come close, but you are not the favorite. That’s simply the reality. There are teams like Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and France that have won recently. This doesn’t mean we have no chance; we understand that first we need to qualify, and then we will know exactly why we go there."

Tuchel will have the opportunity to evaluate his squad further when England faces Wales in a friendly on Thursday, followed by the World Cup qualifier against Latvia on October 14.

However, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager has left out Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, who were regulars under Gareth Southgate, from his latest squad. Reece James is also unavailable due to injury.

Star striker Harry Kane will miss the friendly against Wales due to a foot issue but is expected to return for the match against Latvia.

Former manager Southgate fostered a close-knit squad during his tenure, a quality that former captain Steven Gerrard noted was lacking during his time with the 'Golden Generation.' Tuchel aims to maintain that spirit. "Let’s take it step by step, which will lead us to the next step. We are building a team that is prepared to progress and play cohesively, so that no one will want to face us," Tuchel said.

"When I hear discussions about titles in international football or missed opportunities, I always hear the same refrain: we either were a team or we weren’t. This theme is consistent in international football. I believe it holds true in club football as well, but it becomes even more critical when you spend 24/7 together for an extended period, especially during the World Cup in America. You must be a strong, unified group."

Will England Really be Underdogs?

Tuchel is correct in stating that the men's team has not secured a major trophy for decades while rivals have won multiple titles since England's 1966 victory.

Since England's only World Cup win, there have been six different champions, with three of those teams winning three times and two others twice.

However, does this classification as underdogs hold true? Based on recent form, one might argue otherwise.

Tuchel's squad is currently ranked fourth in the world, trailing only Spain, France, and Argentina, and they lead their qualification group with a perfect record after five matches.

Having been runners-up in the last two European Championships and reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the past two World Cups, their track record is commendable.

Tuchel's claim of being underdogs gains more credibility when considering the anticipated weather conditions in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Extreme heat is expected to pose challenges during the tournament, particularly for European players.

Historically, ten of the eleven World Cups held in Europe have been won by European teams, but the narrative changes when the tournament is hosted in the Americas.

All seven tournaments held in the Americas featured South American winners until Germany broke the trend in 2014, with Argentina winning in the heat of Qatar thereafter.

Spain was the first European team to win the World Cup outside of Europe, lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

In this context, Tuchel's assertion that England should not be considered favorites for the tournament holds merit, although factors such as late kick-off times and stadium cooling systems may provide some relief.

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