England head coach Thomas Tuchel is considering a radical strategy to combat the sweltering conditions expected at the 2026 World Cup, which could see his substitutes start matches in the dressing room rather than on the bench.
Beat the Heat: A Dressing Room Strategy
Speaking in Washington DC ahead of Friday's World Cup draw, Tuchel outlined his concerns about player welfare. With temperatures in host nations the USA, Mexico, and Canada forecast to exceed 40°C at some venues, the manager is exploring ways to protect his squad from the extreme heat.
Tuchel revealed he is open to the idea of keeping reserve players in the cooler environment of the dressing room until they are needed on the pitch. They would watch the match on televisions inside the stadium complex.
"If this is what helps us later in the match, when they come on, we consider that as a possibility," Tuchel stated. He acknowledged the trade-off, saying, "Nobody likes it, as I want the players to be out here and feel the energy and give the energy from the bench onto the field, but I know the benefit."
Learning from Experience and Managing Stars
The German coach said he had seen this approach used successfully at the Club World Cup. "Hopefully we can avoid it," he added. "It is always better if they can be with us."
Separately, Tuchel confirmed he had reviewed Jude Bellingham's reaction to being substituted during last month's win against Albania. When asked by ITV, the manager deferred discussion, stating, "It’s pretty clear what happened and I didn’t see it during the match. I think you understand that I’m in Washington now for the World Cup draw, so the subject is not for now."
Dreaming of Glory in 2026
Looking ahead to the tournament, Tuchel's ambition is clear. He is dreaming of returning from North America next summer as world champions. "If the players bring that desire then I think anything is possible," he said.
"We will be brave enough to dream about it, we will be brave enough to try it," Tuchel declared, emphasising the importance of collective spirit. "Everyone knows that we cannot promise that we win it, but they want to see a team, team spirit, a team that gives everything, fights for each other."
He concluded with a warning to future opponents, stating his focus is on building an unstoppable unit: "The emphasis will be on the squad and team spirit, and hopefully we get the momentum and we get the energy around the team right so that no-one else wants to play us."
