Thomas Tuchel's Historic First Draw as England Coach

Thomas Tuchel, the first German to coach England's national football team, witnessed his team's draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in qualifying group stage matches starting in September. His tenure begins January as England aims for 2026 World Cup glory.

In an unprecedented moment for English football, Thomas Tuchel, freshly appointed as the national team's coach, attended his first official engagement at FIFA headquarters. His England team, grouped with Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra, sets forth on an ambitious journey towards the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel, taking on the mantle as the first German to helm the English side, begins his work in January. Scheduled matches commence in September for England's group, a pivotal step in a campaign that sees Europe vying for 16 spots in the World Cup hosted by North America.

The road to the World Cup heightens the anticipation for Tuchel's strategic prowess, promising new dynamics in world football. Notably, as geopolitics mirror sport, Russia remains sidelined due to its exclusion from international meets post its 2022 incursion into Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)