- England’s propose trip to the USA next year will now not take place
- Thomas Tuchel’s side have been placed in five-team World Cup qualifying group
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England will not now travel to America for two June friendlies after Friday’s World Cup qualifying draw placed them in a five-team group.
Had Thomas Tuchel and his players been drawn with just three other teams they would not have started qualifying for the 2026 World Cup until next September. This would have left space in the calendar for two lucrative games in the USA at the end of this season.
As it stands, England will now begin the qualifying process in the March international break when they expect to play one qualifier and one friendly. They will expect to do the same in June.
The development at least prevents what could have been a difficult club v country situation at the end of what is shaping up to become another sapping domestic season.
Players of Manchester City and Chelsea, for example, are due to appear in the new and revamped Club World Cup in America from mid-June to mid-July. That tournament will also feature Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and England captain Harry Kane, who will play for Bayern Munich.
Their clubs would not have wished their star players to play two friendly games in USA between the end of the domestic season in late May and the start of the Club World Cup a little over two weeks later.
Thomas Tuchel’s England will not now travel to America for two June friendlies after their World Cup draw