England booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic style after thrashing Latvia 5-0 in Riga on Tuesday night.
Harry Kane struck twice, while Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, and an own goal from Maksims Tonisevs completed a dominant display that sealed top spot in Group K with two games to spare.
The result makes Thomas Tuchel’s England the first European team to secure qualification, continuing a flawless run since the German tactician took charge. The Three Lions have now won all six of their qualifiers, scoring 18 goals and conceding none.
“It comes rarely that you qualify for a World Cup, so the mood is very, very good,” Tuchel said after the match. “In the dressing room, it’s all smiles, music. It’s a moment to enjoy because it’s a special moment.”
Tuchel’s reign began with unconvincing performances against Albania and Andorra, followed by a friendly defeat to Senegal, but England have since found their rhythm. “Of course we expect us to win against Latvia, but the way we won gives us a lot of satisfaction,” Tuchel added. “Six wins, six clean sheets—it’s a unique feeling.”
The manager’s decision to rest fit-again stars Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden raised eyebrows, but his faith in a consistent lineup has paid off. Anthony Gordon, who has become a fixture on the left flank, opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a brilliant curling strike into the far corner—his second goal for England.
Harry Kane, after missing an early sitter from Gordon’s cross, soon rediscovered his touch. The Bayern Munich forward doubled the lead with a deft finish on his weaker foot and then made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after being tugged by Latvia captain Antonijs Cernomordijs.
“I spoke before about building momentum, no matter who we play,” said Kane. “We hold on to that—winning games, keeping clean sheets, pressing high, scoring goals — and we’ve done all of that.”
The second half saw England cruise comfortably despite several substitutions that briefly disrupted their flow. Latvia’s misfortune deepened when Tonisevs turned Djed Spence’s cross into his own net, before Eberechi Eze—on as a substitute—capped off the evening with a composed finish after a dazzling solo run in the 86th minute.
The victory continues England’s remarkable qualifying record—they have not failed to reach a World Cup since 1994, when the tournament was last hosted in the United States.
Now, the real challenge for Tuchel begins: transforming England’s qualifying dominance into tournament success. With attacking talents like Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Foden, and Bellingham all vying for spots, Tuchel faces tough decisions ahead of next summer’s finals.
England, however, will travel across the Atlantic as one of the favorites—and with renewed belief that their long wait for a major trophy since 1966 could finally come to an end.
What You Should Know
England became the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, maintaining a perfect record under Thomas Tuchel.
Harry Kane took his international tally to 76 goals, while the Three Lions extended their unbeaten qualifying run with six wins and six clean sheets.
With a star-studded squad and strong momentum, England are poised to be serious contenders in next year’s tournament.
