England stormed into next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 5–0 win over Latvia in Riga, maintaining their perfect qualifying record under head coach Thomas Tuchel. The result confirmed England’s place at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States with two games to spare, as they outclassed a Latvian side ranked 137th in the world.
Goals from Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane (twice), an own goal by Andrejs Ciganiks, and a late strike from Eberechi Eze sealed a dominant display for the Three Lions at the Daugavas Stadionā. Despite tensions between Tuchel and sections of England’s travelling fans following his criticism of “quiet supporters” after the recent win over Wales, the night ultimately belonged to the team’s clinical performance on the pitch.
England controlled the match from the outset, asserting their superiority in possession and movement. Their breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon curled a precise low shot past Latvian goalkeeper Kristers Zviedris after being teed up by John Stones.
The lead was doubled just before half-time through captain Harry Kane, who rifled home a powerful effort from the edge of the area following Bukayo Saka’s assist. Moments later, Kane added his second from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after being tugged inside the box. The brace took Kane’s international tally to 76 goals in 110 appearances — further cementing his status as England’s all-time top scorer.
After the interval, England continued their dominance with relentless pressure down both flanks. Latvia’s defence finally cracked again in the 58th minute when Djed Spence’s driven cross deflected off Ciganiks and into his own net for England’s fourth.
Substitute Eberechi Eze capped off the rout in the 86th minute, collecting a pass from Jarrod Bowen before weaving past two defenders and curling home a composed finish to make it 5–0. It was a fitting end to a display that showcased England’s depth and attacking flair under Tuchel’s guidance.
While the goals flowed freely, the night was not without drama off the pitch. England’s travelling supporters made their displeasure known towards Tuchel after his comments about the atmosphere at Wembley. Chants of “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll sing when we want” and “Are you Wembley in disguise?” rang out throughout the first half. The German coach responded with a brief wave and later applauded the drenched away section at full-time, easing tensions somewhat after the final whistle.
Nevertheless, Tuchel could take satisfaction in his team’s flawless qualifying campaign. Since replacing Gareth Southgate in January, the former Chelsea manager has guided England to six wins from six games, scoring 18 goals and conceding none. The team’s defensive solidity — anchored by Jordan Pickford, who extended his run of clean sheets to nine consecutive internationals — has been a key feature of their resurgence.
“This was a professional performance,” Tuchel said after the match. “We played with control, intensity, and purpose. Qualification is the first step — now we prepare to compete at the highest level.”
The victory also extended England’s unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 17, and with qualification now secured, Tuchel will have the luxury of using the final two group fixtures — against Serbia at Wembley and away to Albania — to experiment with tactics and assess fringe players.
England’s consistency, coupled with the leadership of Kane and the emergence of new talents like Gordon and Eze, has reignited optimism among supporters ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
As the rain poured down in Riga, England’s dominance and Tuchel’s calm assurance suggested a team growing in maturity and confidence. For now, qualification is complete — but the greater challenge lies ahead, as Tuchel turns his attention to delivering England’s first World Cup triumph since 1966.
