England manager Thomas Tuchel has issued a bullish and confident response after learning the Three Lions' fate for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring his squad should not fear any opponent, even those from "another galaxy".
A Challenging Group Awaits in North America
The draw for the expanded tournament, to be held across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, took place in Washington D.C. with Tuchel in attendance. England were placed into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama for the initial stage of the competition.
Their campaign will begin on June 17 with a high-profile clash against Croatia, potentially in either Toronto or Dallas. They will then face Ghana on June 23 in Toronto or Boston, before concluding the group phase against Panama on June 27 in either Philadelphia or New Jersey.
Tuchel's Message: Hunger Over Fear
Despite a potential knockout path that could see England face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City in the last 16 and football giants Brazil in the quarter-finals, Tuchel's message was one of unwavering focus and excitement.
"It's most important that we arrive with hunger. We arrive with hunger and with excitement and arrive as a team. We don't worry," stated the England boss. He emphasised that the squad would not get carried away with plotting a route through the tournament, but would concentrate solely on performing well in their group.
Regarding the daunting prospect of a knockout match in the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Tuchel recalled watching World Cup games there as a teenager. "It was just like watching something from Mars or from another galaxy," he said. "But to be in there and then play a knockout game against Mexico? Anything can happen."
Familiar Foes and Scorching Conditions
The opening match against Croatia renews a recent competitive rivalry and brings a personal touch for Tuchel, who revealed he had already received a text message from his former Chelsea midfielder, Mateo Kovacic. "We know them, they know us, it's a big opening match," Tuchel acknowledged.
Beyond the opposition, logistical challenges await. Venues and precise kick-off times will be confirmed by FIFA in a separate event. Furthermore, England could contend with scorching temperatures on the East Coast of the USA during their group matches, with conditions potentially becoming even more intense in the latter stages.
Tuchel concluded with a pragmatic reminder to fans and pundits alike, stressing that talk of facing Mexico or Brazil is premature. "We don't meet them for sure if we don't perform in the group," he asserted, underlining that the immediate task is to navigate Group L successfully and build momentum from there.
