Thomas Tuchel has clear view of the task ahead as he prepares to lead England to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The FA made the move to bring in an experienced new face at the start of 2025 with Tuchel’s impressive club CV viewed as the decisive factor.
The structure of Tuchel’s contract indicates exactly what both sides are aiming for with his contract due to end after the tournament in North America.
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England consistently came up short of winning a major title under Gareth Southgate as the long wait to replicate their sole men’s World Cup win in 1966 rolls on.
Southgate led England to defeat in the 2018 World Cup semifinals and back-to-back final losses at UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024.
The latter against Spain proved to be his final act and Tuchel’s brief is clear – do everything he can to end 60 years of hurt in 2026.
Tuchel’s forthright style has already attracted plenty of attention – after he hinted at England players being ‘afraid to win’ the final against Spain – and he admitted changing that mantra will be decisive.
“Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players. They were playing to not lose. We have every right to be self-confident over what is to come,” as per quotes from BBC Sport.
“We want to play with a hunger and a joy to win and not with the fear to lose. I feel pressure when it comes to semi-finals and finals, but then I have the experience.
“We have only six camps and that’s why I was so strong on the point to bond with each other.”
England have not reached a World Cup final since famously beating West Germany in 1966 and Southgate’s path to the semis in 2018 was just the second time the Three Lions have reached that stage since.
Tuchel kicks off his World Cup qualification campaign with a Group K clash against Albania at Wembley on March 21 followed by a home tie with Latvia three days later.
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