England’s World Cup preparations face test shortage ahead of 2026 tournament

England's World Cup preparations face test shortage ahead of 2026 tournament

England's smooth World Cup qualifying campaign has left coach Thomas Tuchel with a dilemma: how to prepare a team starved of high-level competition since their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. With only lower-ranked opponents faced in recent months, concerns grow over the squad's readiness for next summer's tournament.

Nations League setback limits competitive exposure

England's relegation to UEFA Nations League B in 2024 forced them into matches against Greece (ranked 48th), the Republic of Ireland (62nd), and Finland (64th). While they won five of six games-dropping points only in a surprise home loss to Greece-the lack of elite opposition contrasts sharply with rivals like France, Italy, and the Netherlands, who battled top-10 teams in League A.

The highest-ranked side England have faced since Euro 2024 is Senegal (19th), who defeated them 3-1 in a March friendly. Their most notable victory in that span came against Wales (30th), a 3-0 win in October. The dearth of challenging fixtures raises questions about whether the squad will arrive in 2026 underprepared.

Friendly fixtures in flux ahead of December draw

England's plans for two March friendlies remain unresolved pending the World Cup draw on 5 December. Reports suggest potential matches against Uruguay (15th) and Japan (19th), but both could be scrapped if drawn into the same group. The squad's last encounter with a South American team-a 1-0 loss to Brazil in March 2024-highlights the gap in testing opposition.

Logistical hurdles add pressure. The Premier League ends on 24 May, with the Champions League final six days later, leaving a tight window for warm-up games. England's earliest possible tournament opener is 13 June, though a later draw (Groups K/L start 17 June) could ease scheduling. In 2018, they managed two pre-tournament friendlies; in 2022, none.

Women's team success contrasts with men's limited prep

The England women's team offers a stark contrast: ahead of the 2023 World Cup, they played nine friendlies, including clashes with Sweden, Brazil (twice), and the USA, en route to the final. The men's team, however, has played just 14 friendlies since 2018-down from 37 in the prior seven years-due to Nations League commitments and qualifying demands.

Balancing style and strength in opponent selection

Tuchel must decide whether to prioritize top-ranked opponents (e.g., Uruguay) for a stern test or stylistic mirrors of potential World Cup foes. England haven't faced an Asian or Concacaf team since the 2022 World Cup (Iran, USA), while their last non-European test-a 1-0 loss to Brazil-came eight months ago.

As one pundit noted:

"If Harry Kane were to get injured this summer, where would that leave us?"

Key dates

• 5 December 2025: World Cup draw (friendly opponents to be confirmed afterward).
• March 2026: Planned friendlies (opponents TBA; Uruguay/Japan speculated).
• 24 May 2026: Premier League season concludes.
• 13-17 June 2026: Potential World Cup opener (group-stage start dates).