When is Thomas Tuchel's first game as England manager?
- Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as Gareth Southgate's successor
- Tuchel becomes first German to take charge of Three Lions
- Former Chelsea manager will not assume role immediately
The idea of the English FA hiring a German once would have been blasphemous and, while some are still stuck in an antiquated time, a large chunk of Three Lions supporters can't help but be excited about the potential of Thomas Tuchel's England.
A dearth of high-quality homegrown options almost forced the FA's hand in their search for Gareth Southgate's successor. Pep Guardiola was doubtlessly the utopia, but Tuchel is far from a 'that'll do' alternative.
England have bagged a winner who thrives in the realm of knockout football. He's not been successful everywhere he's been, but the factors in Tuchel's recent failings are unlikely to rear their head on the international stage.
The German's arrival will thrust mammoth expectations onto an England team used to dealing with sky-high demands, with the FA targeting the 2026 World Cup as Tuchel's crowning glory. However, that North American spectacle is well into the distance and there's still some 'Carsball' to enjoy before then.
When will Thomas Tuchel take charge of his first England game?
While Tuchel was unveiled as Southgate's successor on Wednesday 16 October, the 51-year-old won't officially take up his post until 1 January 2025.
As a result, the thrilled-to-be-in-charge interim boss Lee Carsley has two more games to endure in the limelight. England take on Greece and the Republic of Ireland to wrap up their 2024/25 Nations League group phase campaign in November and are aiming to usurp the Greeks in Group B2 in a bid to return to League A, with top spot meaning automatic promotion.
Tuchel's first matches in charge will arrive during the following international break in March 2025. If England aren't in a Nations League promotion play-off, the German will oversee a pair of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but England's opponents are not yet known.
When is the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw?
There is no confirmed date for the World Cup qualifying draw, but it will take place following the conclusion of the Nations League group fixtures in November. Previous draws have been held in late November or early December.
Tuchel's England will be drawn into one of 12 groups consisting of either four or five teams. Each of the 12 group winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the second-place finishers will have to endure the play-offs. 16 UEFA members will qualify in total.
When is the 2026 World Cup?
Football's grandest competition will return to being a summer event in 2026 following the pre-Christmas showpiece in Qatar.
The 2026 North American World Cup gets underway on Thursday 11 June and concludes over a month later on Sunday 19 July. Tuchel's England will be considered a very early favourite to go all the way, but they must get through qualifying first.
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