England have officially booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first European nation to qualify for the tournament following a commanding 5–0 win over Latvia in Riga.
The upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is still months away — but the Three Lions have already secured their ticket after an unbeaten qualifying run.
Kane Leads the Charge in Riga
Captain Harry Kane once again proved his worth, scoring twice to guide England to another emphatic victory. The Bayern Munich striker found the net early and later doubled his tally, maintaining his superb international form.
Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze also added their names to the scoresheet, while a misdirected clearance from Latvia’s Maksims Tonisevs ended up in his own net. England dominated possession from start to finish, barely allowing their opponents a glimpse of goal.
Their performance extended an incredible record — six wins out of six in the qualifying campaign, with 18 goals scored and none conceded.
Tuchel Delivers on His Promise
Head coach Thomas Tuchel, who took charge in October 2024, had pledged to secure qualification early, and he has done just that — with two matches still remaining. Tuchel now plans to use England’s upcoming fixtures against Serbia and Albania to fine-tune his squad and experiment with tactical options ahead of the tournament.
Eyes Now on North America 2026
Tuchel’s appointment marked the beginning of a new era for England, and his immediate success has reignited hopes of ending the nation’s long wait for another World Cup triumph — their first since 1966.
The World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where England will learn their group-stage opponents. With qualification secured, Tuchel and his players can now focus on preparation and performance rather than pressure and points.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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