Harry Kane will continue as England captain under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, who confirmed on Friday that there will be no changes to the leadership as the national team prepares for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Kane, who has captained England since 2018, will retain his role when Tuchel takes charge on January 1, marking a new chapter for the Three Lions under the German manager.
Tuchel, who was appointed as England’s head coach in October, spoke to the media ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, stating that all players, including Kane, will start with a clean slate under his leadership. “There is at the moment no need to think about change,” Tuchel said. “Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?”
Tuchel’s first engagement as England manager came during the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where England were placed in Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. With Tuchel’s tenure set to begin in January, he emphasized that the key focus now is to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers, which will kick off in late March. He noted, “You cross the river when you cross the river. First, come January, we will be in touch with everyone and get the feeling for St George’s Park and also the players.”
The 51-year-old German hinted that he would be building his own team, independent of former manager Gareth Southgate’s choices. He also stressed that all players would be given the opportunity for a fresh start under his management. This includes Arsenal defender Ben White, who had left the 2022 World Cup squad unexpectedly due to personal reasons and had not been selected since. Tuchel expressed his intent to reach out to White and reset any tensions, saying, “I will reach out to him. It should be a clean start and a clear narrative.”
White, who has earned just four caps for England in friendlies, had been rumoured to have personal issues with Southgate and assistant coach Steve Holland, but those claims were later denied by the former manager. Tuchel’s approach will be to bring clarity and transparency, both in terms of player relationships and selection processes. “It starts from January. I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players and they should just know, ‘okay, the boss is there from January,'” Tuchel added. “Then I will of course try to speak to them but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”
England’s World Cup qualifying campaign will begin in late March and continue through June. The team is placed in a five-team group, meaning their qualifiers will start later than those in groups of four. This compressed timeline puts Tuchel on a fast track, as he will begin his tenure just three months before the qualifiers begin, with only 15 months left before the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Tuchel, who previously managed high-profile clubs such as Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, is eager to hit the ground running. He expressed his excitement about the role, saying, “I like the framework, the narrative. I like it to start when the World Cup qualification starts, to have it as you kick off and to go from there. It gives clarity in the selection process and clarity in how we speak to each other and where we want to go. No distractions. We will be ready.”
With Tuchel at the helm, England will be aiming for a strong start to their 2026 World Cup qualification, and the new manager’s clear and focused approach could set the stage for a successful campaign.
