Incoming England coach Thomas Tuchel has all the resources needed to lead the team to World Cup glory in 2026, according to interim manager Lee Carsley.
Tuchel, previously in charge at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will officially take over on January 1 after signing an 18-month contract with the Football Association. His primary goal is to secure England’s first major trophy since 1966 during the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Carsley, who stepped in temporarily after Gareth Southgate’s resignation in July, guided England to promotion in the Nations League, winning five out of six matches. He believes Tuchel has a strong foundation to build on.
“We have all of the tools,” Carsley said. “We just need to play them in the (right) order.”
Carsley will hand over the reins after Sunday’s 5-0 win against Ireland at Wembley. During his stint, he introduced eight debutants and left the squad in what he described as a “fantastic position” for Tuchel.
“Thomas’s pool of players has increased, so we’ve left the squad in a fantastic position,” he said. “We’ll collate our thoughts… in terms of handing over something valuable he can read and look through. Then we’ll step back and support him.”
Carsley, returning to his role as England’s Under-21 manager, noted that the key challenge for Tuchel will be finding balance in a competitive squad, especially with limited time during international breaks.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is optimistic about Tuchel’s appointment. Having experienced close calls in the last two European Championship finals and other tournaments, Pickford believes the team is ready to take the final step.
“There’s definitely new energy, and there’s going to be a lot of competition for places,” Pickford said. “But that’s what it’s about. You want the best players for England at the right moment, and hopefully, going forward next year, we’ll have that squad ready to win.”
Tuchel’s challenge begins with preparing the team for the World Cup qualifiers and ultimately the 2026 tournament.
