Thomas Tuchel believes England will head into the 2026 World Cup as clear underdogs. He warns they have no chance of success unless they unite as a team. England have reached consecutive European Championship finals but have not advanced beyond a World Cup semi-final since their 1966 triumph. The team lost to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals but can secure qualification for next year’s tournament in North America by beating Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.
Tuchel demands teamwork over talent
“We will arrive as underdogs because we haven’t won it for decades,” Tuchel said. “We’ll face teams that have lifted the trophy repeatedly, so we must arrive as one team or we have no chance.” The England coach explained his approach to team selection during the current international break. “We try to gather players who bring glue and cohesion,” he said. “We need to travel with the best team, not just the best individuals.”
Tuchel, 52, took charge of England in January and has won five of his six matches, with his only defeat coming in a friendly against Senegal. He has now worked with his players across three training camps and has two more before the World Cup begins. His 18-month contract carries one clear goal — to guide England to global success.
‘We are not the favourites’
Tuchel compared England’s position to that of a tennis player chasing a first major title. “If you’ve never won Wimbledon, you may be a contender but not the favourite,” he said. “You can reach the final stages, but that doesn’t make you the favourite. It’s just reality.”
He pointed to the dominance of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and France. “They have done it recently,” he admitted. “That doesn’t mean we have no chance. First, we qualify. Then we know exactly why we go there.”
Tuchel will assess his squad again when England face Wales in a friendly on Thursday before meeting Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on 14 October.
Big names left out
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss surprised many by leaving out Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, both regulars under Gareth Southgate. Reece James withdrew due to injury, while captain Harry Kane will miss the Wales match with a foot problem but should return against Latvia.
Southgate’s era fostered a strong team spirit — something Steven Gerrard once said his own ‘Golden Generation’ lacked. Tuchel aims to preserve that unity. “Let’s go step by step,” he said. “We build a team ready to move forward together so no one wants to face us.”
He added, “When I hear players talk about international football, the same theme repeats — either we were a team or we weren’t. That’s always the key. In club football it matters, but in international football, it’s everything. You live together for days, train together, and you must stay strong as one group.”
Are England really underdogs?
Tuchel is right to note England’s long wait for a major trophy. Rivals have lifted the World Cup many times since 1966. Six nations have won it since then, three of them three times and two others twice.
Yet on current form, England hardly look like outsiders. They rank fourth in the world, behind only Spain, France, and Argentina, and lead their qualifying group with a perfect record after five matches. They have reached the finals of the past two European Championships and made the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the last two World Cups.
Heat could tilt the odds
Tuchel’s underdog argument gains weight when considering the conditions in North America. The 2026 tournament will take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where extreme heat is expected to challenge players from Europe.
Ten of the 11 World Cups held in Europe were won by European teams, but tournaments in the Americas have told a different story. Until Germany’s win in 2014, every World Cup hosted there had a South American champion. Argentina then triumphed again in Qatar’s heat.
Spain became the first European team to win outside their continent when they lifted the 2010 trophy in South Africa.
In that light, Tuchel has a strong case. England should not be labelled favourites, even if modern stadiums and late kick-offs may ease the heat. But with unity, Tuchel insists, England can still dream of rewriting history.
