Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has issued a bullish promise that England will do everything possible to win the 2026 World Cup, delivering an honest and glowing appraisal of manager Thomas Tuchel's impact.
Tuchel's Transformative Impact
Ahead of Friday's crucial tournament draw in Washington, Bullingham expressed immense excitement about the national team's prospects under the German coach. He stated that Tuchel, who is on an 18-month contract with the explicit aim of delivering the trophy, has instilled a "brilliant energy" into the camp since his appointment.
"Thomas has come in and really hit the ground running brilliantly," Bullingham said. "You can feel the brilliant energy in the camp and see that the players are really responding well to him." This positive atmosphere was reflected in a perfect qualifying campaign, where England won every game without conceding a single goal.
Logistical Challenges and Meticulous Planning
With the 2026 finals being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Bullingham acknowledged the significant challenges posed by vast travel distances, varying climates, and altitude changes. He emphasised that these hurdles are the same for every competing nation and that the FA has a detailed plan to overcome them.
"We think we've got a really clear plan and we've mapped out obviously every eventuality depending on where we get drawn," he explained. The FA has already confirmed that England will use Inter Miami's base as a training camp and play two friendlies in Florida to acclimatise to the heat. Their preferred tournament base is in Kansas City, though this is dependent on the draw.
World Cup Draw and Tournament Ambition
Tuchel will be present at the draw on Friday, 5th December, alongside Scotland's Steve Clarke, to discover England's group-stage opponents. The full schedule of dates and venues will be revealed on Saturday. Bullingham firmly believes the current squad, combined with Tuchel's leadership, gives England a genuine chance to win the men's World Cup for the first time since 1966.
"We know for European teams it's obviously going to be hard in the heat, but we'll do everything we can," Bullingham pledged. "We've got a brilliant squad now and we'll be in amongst the top teams. But there are some fantastic other teams there too. So of course we can't control anything other than the fact we'll be doing everything we can to do well."
The FA chief executive concluded by assuring that the association will provide Tuchel with its full backing in terms of support, logistics, and preparation, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for football's ultimate prize next summer.
