Lee Carsley: England Ready for 2026 World Cup Under Tuchel

Lee Carsley believes England are in “a good position” to win the 2026 World Cup under new manager Thomas Tuchel. The German coach, who will take over on January 1 with an 18-month contract, has the task of ending England’s long wait for a major trophy. Carsley, who guided the team to Nations League A promotion feels the squad is talented enough to succeed. “We have all the tools; we just need to play them in the right order,” he said.

During his interim spell, Carsley led England to five wins from six games giving debuts to eight players including Curtis Jones and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. His tenure ended with a 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley leaving the team in a strong position for Tuchel’s arrival. Carsley acknowledged the squad’s depth, saying Tuchel will inherit a team with plenty of talent and his job will be to select the right players at the right time.

Lee Carsley, who will return to coaching the England Under-21s is unsure when he will meet Tuchel to discuss the squad but emphasized the importance of handing over useful information. “We will collate our thoughts and step back to support him,” he said. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford echoed Carsley’s optimism, noting the “new energy” around the team and the competition for places which he believes will help England prepare for next year’s World Cup.

Former England striker Chris Sutton highlighted that while Pickford is a guaranteed starter, positions like striker remain up for debate particularly with Harry Kane’s age and mobility. Sutton also pointed out Ollie Watkins’ versatility, suggesting he could offer a different attacking threat for Tuchel to consider.