News Focus
- Thomas Tuchel states he has “full belief” England can win the 2026 World Cup
- Twenty-one players have arrived in Miami for a ten-day heat acclimatisation camp
- Four Champions League finalists and one Conference League winner will join the squad later
- The FA has spent over a year preparing special heat management strategies for the tournament
England manager Thomas Tuchel says he is convinced his team can win the World Cup next year. The German coach spoke to Sky Sports News before flying to the United States with the majority of his squad.
Tuchel explained that recent conversations with his players left him feeling confident. He noticed high quality during training sessions and strong unity within the group. He believes these elements are vital if England want to win the tournament for the first time since 1966.
Twenty-one players from the 26-man squad travelled to Miami on Monday evening. They will spend ten days at a training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida. The camp will help them adapt to the extreme heat and humidity they will face during the competition.
The Football Association has prepared for these conditions for more than twelve months. Last June in Barcelona, players trained inside special heat chambers. These facilities copied the hot weather expected in North America, where temperatures can reach 35 degrees Celsius with 75 percent humidity.
During the training in Spain, players swallowed biometric tablets. These small devices measured their internal body temperatures. Sports scientists monitored how quickly each player recovered after exercising in the heat.
Four players who featured in the Champions League final will miss the start of the camp. Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice will arrive later, along with Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Crystal Palace attacker Ebere Eze. Tuchel gave them extra time to recover. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson will also join late after playing in the Europa Conference League final for Crystal Palace.
These five players will probably miss the friendly match against New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday. However, they should be ready for the second friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando four days later.
Until then, young players Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and goalkeeper Luke Steele will train with the main group.
Tuchel accepts the heat will be a major challenge. He said it is not an excuse but an obstacle to overcome. “We are not used to this heat and humidity,” he admitted. “But we know how each player reacts. We have cooling strategies ready.”
The manager noted that England’s first World Cup match against Croatia on June 17 will take place indoors with air conditioning. After that game, the team must adapt to outdoor conditions. England hope to add a second star to their shirt by lifting the trophy.