England in World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia

Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of his first game as the England manager against Albania this evening at Wembley Stadium, which also marks England’s first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. This will be a very important occasion as fans and football analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team performs under Tuchel’s leadership. The German coach, who has previously managed teams such as Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern Munich, was appointed as England's boss following the departure of Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after reaching the final and finishing as runners-up to winners Spain at Euro 2024.

Tuchel’s first England squad includes star names such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, who are all expected to play key roles in the team's success. However, there have also been some new inclusions to the team, with players like Dan Burn, Tino Livramento and Myles Lewis-Skelly all getting called up for the first time. Their selections have been met with mixed reactions from fans, with some praising the decision to give younger and lesser-experienced players a chance while others questioning whether they are ready for the international stage.

England’s national team has recently finished top of their European Nations League group just ahead of Greece on goal difference, which means they have gained promotion to the Nations League A Division. This has given the team a boost of confidence going into World Cup Qualifying, as they look to build momentum under Tuchel’s guidance. Most observers and football experts believe that England is likely to qualify comfortably and finish top of their group for the World Cup next year, however, the main challenge will come once the tournament itself gets underway in 2026. England has often been strong in qualifying campaigns but has faced criticism for failing to deliver when it matters most in major tournaments.

England’s second qualifier will take place in just three days against Latvia, and this match will also be hosted at Wembley Stadium, giving the team a home advantage for their opening two fixtures. The full list of teams that make up England’s qualifying group includes Albania, Latvia, Andorra, and Serbia. On paper, England is expected to top the group with relative ease, but as football has proven time and time again, nothing can be taken for granted. Fans will be hoping to see a strong performance from Tuchel’s men as they aim to lay down a statement of intent ahead of the rest of the qualifiers.