England manager Thomas Tuchel has named the one nation he hopes the Three Lions will not face at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that a clash with his homeland, Germany, would bring unnecessary emotional pressure at the tournament.
Tuchel made the remark while speaking to ITV ahead of the World Cup draw scheduled for later this month. England head into next year’s competition as one of the leading contenders after a dominant qualification campaign that saw them win all eight matches without conceding a single goal. The flawless run ensured they finished as group winners and maintained their position inside the top five of the FIFA world rankings, currently sitting in fourth place.
The German-born manager acknowledged England’s growing confidence and strong form but noted that a potential knockout meeting with Germany is one matchup he would prefer to avoid. Tuchel explained that facing his native country would naturally come with heightened emotions and a sense of personal pressure that could overshadow the technical and tactical aspects of the fixture.
He stated that while England are prepared to face any opponent, the personal connection makes Germany a particularly complex opponent for him. Tuchel also reflected on the historical weight such encounters carry, especially given the long-standing footballing rivalry between the two nations.
The last competitive meeting between England and Germany came at Euro 2020, where England secured a 2–0 victory in the round of 16 at Wembley Stadium, courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. That win ended a run of painful knockout defeats for England at the hands of Germany in years past and remains a memorable chapter in their tournament history.
As anticipation builds for the 2026 World Cup draw, Tuchel reiterated that England’s focus remains on maintaining momentum, improving depth across all positions, and fine-tuning the squad ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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