Few national teams carry as much history, hope and heartache as England's men. They are the birthplace of the modern game, and their supporters have spent six decades waiting for a second major trophy after the 1966 World Cup win on home soil. That was England's only World Cup title, making them one of eight nations to have won the tournament. The wait goes on, but the summer of 2026 brought the closest England have come in a generation.
The Tuchel Era
After Gareth Southgate led England to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024, the FA turned to a German. Thomas Tuchel's appointment was confirmed in October 2024, with a start date of January 1, 2025. A coach with Champions League pedigree, he had a difficult brief: turn a talented, tournament-hardened squad into winners. The early signs were encouraging. England went six wins from six in qualifying, capped by a 5-0 win in Latvia, and did not concede a single goal along the way. thomas tuchel begins england role ahead 2026 world cup +2
The Talent
The squad is built around Harry Kane, England's record scorer, who reached 76 international goals in that Latvia game. Around him is a generation of attacking talent: Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze, backed by Declan Rice in midfield and a defence that has become notably hard to break down. ESPN
A Summer to Remember
England were drawn in Group L at the World Cup, alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, and progressed to the knockouts. The defining moment came in Mexico City, where England became the first team to beat Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in a World Cup match, doing so through altitude, a hostile crowd and a man down. Tuchel later called the hug with his coaches after the whistle perhaps his moment of the World Cup.
The dream ended in the semi-final in Atlanta. Gordon put England on course for their first final since 1966, but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the match around, and Argentina won 2-1. Tuchel's late-game decisions were widely criticised, and he accepted responsibility, saying he took the decisions to help the team and, since they didn't get the result, the responsibility was his.
England finished the tournament on a high, though. In the third-place playoff in Miami they beat France 6-4 in a ten-goal thriller, with Saka scoring a hat-trick. The bronze medal was England's best World Cup finish on foreign soil and their best showing at the tournament in 60 years.
What Comes Next
Tuchel has been honest about the work still to do, acknowledging a slight gap to the top nations that England want to close. Nobody in the squad seems to see this as a ceiling. The core group is still in its prime, the manager has a tournament behind him, and the next targets are already in view: Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup. englandfootball
For England, the story has always been one of near-misses and stubborn belief. The 2026 bronze medal isn't the trophy fans crave, but it is proof that the wait may finally be shortening.
Bring the Three Lions home. Celebrate England's best World Cup run in 60 years with the handcrafted wooden England National Team Crest by Patriot Wood. Shop the crest here.
