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1 week ago
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England want to face South American and Asian opposition as part of their World Cup preparations and have discussed hosting friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are closing in on qualification for next summer’s tournament and plans are being put in place for warm-up games. Talks over potential opponents for the March international break have taken place, although it is understood the Football Association is yet to make a final decision. The FA is waiting for England to secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup before finalising bookings and may also look to see how the draw for the tournament plays out in December.
However it is understood there is a big possibility of Wembley staging friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, both of whom have qualified for the World Cup. England have mostly faced European opposition since Tuchel took charge at the start of this year and there is a need to test themselves against different styles before the World Cup. They faced African opposition when beaten by Senegal in a friendly in June.
England last played a South American team when they lost a home friendly to Brazil in March 2024. They have not faced a team from the Asian Football Confederation since beating Iran at the 2022 World Cup.
Another consideration for the FA during the buildup to the World Cup will be making sure England are ready for potentially scorching conditions in Canada, Mexico and the US. The likelihood is that the squad will head to Miami in early June for a pre-tournament training camp and to play two friendlies in an attempt to adapt to the heat. Tuchel travelled to the US to assess conditions at the Club World Cup last summer and was left under no illusions about the challenges posed by the weather.
England play Latvia in a qualifier in Riga on Tuesday after a friendly against Wales at Wembley on Thursday. An England victory in Latvia would secure a World Cup place if Serbia have failed to win at home to Albania on Saturday.
