When is Thomas Tuchel’s first game as England boss? Who do England play in 2025? When does World Cup qualifying start?
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Published 18/11/2024 at 11:39 GMT
Lee Carsley's final game as interim England boss, a 5-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, had important consequences for Thomas Tuchel's debut in charge of The Three Lions. Given England's automatic promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League, they will be drawn in a group of five for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. The first fixtures arrive in the March 2025 international break.
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Thomas Tuchel will bring in the New Year as England’s latest permanent manager, with the German’s first task to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The expanded 48-team tournament will have 16 representatives from Europe, with England almost guaranteed a play-off place should they fail to qualify directly from their group.
This is because Lee Carsley secured automatic promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League as his final act as interim head coach.
England will therefore be placed in the top 16 of the Nations League overall ranking, with four World Cup qualifying play-off places awarded to the highest-ranked teams who finish outside the top two in the group stage.
The emphatic 5-0 win over the Republic of Ireland also had a knock-on effect for Tuchel’s first game as England manager.
Sealing top spot in their Nations League group means The Three Lions will avoid a promotion play-off double header scheduled for March.
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When is Tuchel’s first game as England manager?
The next international break arrives on March 17, when England will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign.
England’s Nations League success means Tuchel’s side will be drawn in a group of five countries vying for automatic World Cup qualification.
This is awarded to the group winners, with the runners-up entered into the 16-team qualification play-off tournament.
Tuchel’s first match in charge of England will therefore be played on either Friday, March 21 or Saturday, March 22.
England’s second World Cup qualifying game takes place on Monday, March 24 or Tuesday, March 25.
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Who will England play in 2025?
The identities of England’s opponents in their World Cup qualifying group are not yet known, with the draw to be made on Friday, December 13.
England are guaranteed to be in pot one for the draw, given they are the highest UEFA nation in the FIFA World Rankings not participating in the UEFA Nations League Finals.
Any nation competing in the Nations League promotion or relegation play-offs cannot be drawn in England’s group, as they need the March international break free for those fixtures.
England’s next set of World Cup qualifiers will arrive at the end of the domestic season, in early June, with the final six matches to be played in September, October and November 2025.
Should Tuchel fail to guide The Three Lions to top spot in their group, England will almost certainly have qualification play-off fixtures in March 2026 to contend with.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
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