England emphatically secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first European nation to qualify for the tournament with a resounding 5-0 victory over Latvia in Riga on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The Three Lions booked their spot with two matches to spare, extending their perfect qualifying campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel.

Captain Harry Kane was instrumental in the victory, netting twice to take his international tally to 76 goals and continuing his remarkable form under Tuchel with seven goals in seven matches. The Bayern Munich striker opened his account with a stunning strike from outside the box before adding a penalty during first-half stoppage time following a VAR review for a shirt pull in the box.

Anthony Gordon set the tone for England's dominance by opening the scoring in the 26th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage they would never relinquish. By halftime, England had established a comfortable 3-0 lead, showcasing the clinical finishing and tactical superiority that has defined their qualifying campaign.

The second half saw England continue their assault on the Latvian goal. In the 58th minute, substitute defender Djed Spence delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank that caused havoc in the penalty area, resulting in an unfortunate own goal by Latvia's Maksims Tonisevs to make it 4-0. Eberechi Eze, who came on as a substitute, was rewarded for his impact with the fifth goal four minutes from time, putting the final stamp on a comprehensive performance.

England's defensive solidity matched their attacking prowess throughout the qualifying campaign. The Three Lions have now gone six consecutive matches without conceding a goal, demonstrating the balanced approach Tuchel has instilled in the squad. Defender Ezri Konsa produced a crucial sliding tackle late in the match to deny Latvia's top scorer a consolation goal, preserving the clean sheet.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel emphasized the team's hunger and tactical discipline. We're dominant in games, we're hungry. We invest against the ball, we get a lot of ball wins in the opposing half, the German manager stated, highlighting the pressing system that has become a hallmark of his tenure.

Kane also expressed confidence in his current form, claiming he's in a good moment both physically and tactically. His partnership with the attacking unit has been seamless, and his leadership continues to drive the team forward as they prepare for the global stage.

The 2026 World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first edition featuring 48 teams. The tournament draw is set to take place on December 5 in Washington, where England will discover their group stage opponents. With qualification secured well ahead of schedule, Tuchel now has valuable time to experiment with his squad and fine-tune tactics ahead of the summer showpiece.