England have become the first European team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a big 5–0 win over Latvia in Riga.
The tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is still months away — but England are already going.
Kane Scores Twice as England Cruise to Victory
Harry Kane was the star again, scoring two goals in the easy win. The Bayern Munich striker opened the scoring early and added another goal later on.
Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze also scored, while Latvia’s Maksims Tonisevs accidentally scored an own goal.
England were in control from start to finish and have now won six out of six games in their group. Even more impressively, they have scored 18 goals and not conceded a single one.
Tuchel Keeps His Promise
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who took over last year, had promised to qualify early — and he has done just that, with two games still left to play.
“Qualifying with two games to go is a great achievement — zero goals conceded and playing some great football,”
— said Harry Kane after the match.
Tuchel will now use the remaining games against Serbia and Albania to test players and prepare for the main tournament next summer.
Focus Now Turns to the World Cup
When Tuchel became England manager in October 2024, he said his first goal was to qualify — and then try to win England’s second World Cup, their first since 1966.
“It’s been almost a year since Tuchel came in, and you can see we’re building something,” Kane added. “We’re going in the right direction.”
The World Cup draw takes place on December 5 at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., and England can now focus on preparation, not qualification.