England manager Thomas Tuchel after the match as England qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup, on July 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Harry Kane was central to England’s comeback.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager confirmed that Harry Kane would continue as country’s captain, putting to rest any speculation about leadership changes under his reign. The Bayern Munich striker, who has been a cornerstone of England’s recent successes, has retained Tuchel’s trust. The German tactician, who was unveiled as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October, addressed the media on Friday following the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw. England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Group K, with their campaign starting in March.

There is at the moment no need to think about change,” Tuchel told the reporters. “Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?”

“You cross the river when you cross the river. First, come January, we will be in touch with everyone and get the feeling for St George’s Park and also the players. And until March, there’s still a lot of football to be played, and then we will try to find the best group for the games that await.”

Tuchel, however, hinted at a holistic approach, suggesting that while Kane’s captaincy remains secure, all players will be given a clean slate when he assumes full responsibility. He emphasized the importance of independent decision-making, separate from Southgate’s era.

One player Tuchel is keen to reach out to is Arsenal defender Ben White, who last played for England during the 2022 FIFA World Cup but left the squad midway for personal reasons. White’s future with the national team has been clouded by rumors of a fallout with Southgate’s staff, which were later denied.

Tuchel appeared open to reintegrating the 26-year-old into the fold. “I will reach out to him,” Tuchel said. “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. From January, I’ll be watching games and will try to speak to everyone, including Ben.”

With the qualifiers just 15 months before the 2026 World Cup in North America, Tuchel’s England project begins in earnest. The fixtures’ condensed schedule, starting in March, gives the new manager limited time to assess his squad.

Tuchel intends to begin his role by attending Premier League games in January, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the player pool. “It starts from January. I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players, and they should just know, ‘Okay, the boss is there from January’,” Tuchel added.

“Then I will, of course, try to speak to them but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”

Acknowledging the hectic domestic schedule, particularly in January, Tuchel pledged to respect the demands on players while building relationships.

Tuchel spoke enthusiastically about starting his England journey in conjunction with the World Cup qualifiers. He believes this framework provides a clear focus for the squad and ensures all energies are directed toward building a cohesive team for the long-term goal of global success.

“I like the framework, the narrative. I like it to start when the World Cup qualification starts, to have it as you kick off and go from there,” Tuchel explained. “It gives clarity in the selection process and in how we speak to each other and where we want to go.”

England’s draw offers a relatively straightforward path to qualification. Serbia, the group’s toughest opponent, will pose a challenge, but matches against Albania, Latvia, and Andorra provide an opportunity for England to fine-tune their systems. The five-team group also offers fewer fixtures, allowing Tuchel to focus on immediate and long-term improvements.

Harry Kane says England must be careful not to lose the positive team culture they have created as they prepare for their final match before the arrival of new manager Thomas Tuchel. Interim boss Lee Carsley takes charge for the final time on Sunday as the Euro 2024 runners-up look for victory against Ireland that would seal promotion back to the Nations League top tier. It follows an impressive 3-0 win in Greece on Thursday that left England in control of their own destiny in their group.

Carsley stepped in following the resignation in July of Gareth Southgate, who led the team to a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals.

England captain Kane was asked on Saturday whether there was a risk the camaraderie built up during the eight-year Southgate era could be lost under a new manager.

“Yes, I think so,” said the Bayern Munich forward. “I think it takes a long time to build, and maybe not so long to lose if you’re not careful.

“But I think we’re well aware of that…. I think Lee has done a great job, and I’m sure Thomas will come in and have his own ideas and ways that he wants to build his culture.

“Ultimately, we’ve had some really good tournaments and it’s about using that experience and sharing some of those experiences to the players who haven’t had as much exposure to that.”

Kane said before the Greece match that he was disappointed by multiple withdrawals from the squad, insisting the national team must come first.

The forward said Saturday he was surprised by the impact his comments had made.

“After a major championship like the summer (Euro 2024), sometimes these September, October, November camps get forgotten about a little bit, just in terms of how important they are, because if we win tomorrow, it sets us up really well for the year ahead to the World Cup,” he said.

“These are the camps where you build that culture and that togetherness that leads you into a World Cup.

“It was just a reminder that playing for England is really, really special, and for me personally, it’s one of the greatest things I do as a professional footballer.”

Kane returns

Kane was dropped from the starting line-up for the win in Athens but Carsley said he would start against Ireland at Wembley.

“With Harry Kane you always think goals, but he brings a lot more to the squad and the team than that,” said the temporary boss.

“His leadership skills, he’s a good guy, which is really important as well. The example he sets to the younger players, he’s a crucial part of the England team and moving forward.”

And Carsley said he felt that the opportunities given to new players during his brief spell in charge would help Tuchel, who starts his job in January.

“We’ve got so much quality and they’ve put themselves in the picture now to be selected,” he said. “I think it’s good longer term as well. For Thomas, the pool of players has increased.”

Carsley confirmed England had suffered a 10th withdrawal of the November meet-up after Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa went off with a hip complaint in Athens.

Thomas Tuchel was named England’s new manager on Wednesday, with the German set to start in the role from January 1, 2025. The 51-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, succeeds Englishman Gareth Southgate as permanent coach and becomes the third foreign manager of the Three Lions after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. A former coach of Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Tuchel has the trophy-winning pedigree that the FA is seeking to help end a 58-year wait to win a major tournament. However, the move has drawn criticism over the FA’s unwillingness to trust an Englishman with its top job.

Tuchel will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, who worked alongside him at Bayern Munich.

“I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team,” Tuchel said in a FA statement.

“I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.”

Tuchel won league titles at PSG and Bayern and the German Cup with Dortmund, but his greatest success came during his time in English football at Chelsea.

He led the Blues to Champions League glory just months after taking charge in 2021 and also won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the London club.

Tuchel was sacked in September 2022 in a bold early move by Chelsea’s new ownership group that did not pay off.

He becomes the permanent successor to Southgate, who led the Three Lions to back-to-back finals of the European Championship, plus a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final in his four major tournaments in charge.

England, though, are still yet to win a major men’s tournament since the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world,” said FA CEO Mark Bullingham.

“Since Gareth resigned, we have worked through the candidate pool, meeting a number of coaches and evaluating them against that criteria.

“Thomas was very impressive and stood out with his vast expertise and his drive.”

Tuchel will inherit a richly talented generation of players, including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, that will be among the favourites for the 2026 World Cup.