England were placed into Group L for next summer's World Cup - where they will face Croatia, Panama and Ghana, with Thomas Tuchel also handed another major positive
England manager Thomas Tuchel
England manager Thomas Tuchel(Image: Getty Images)
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Thomas Tuchel has received a major boost to his World Cup plans thanks to the draw. And that could free up the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice to attend England’s training base in Miami next summer.
England will face Croatia on June 17 which is the latest date that a nation could play their first game in the World Cup. It is six days after the tournament kicks off on June 11 to give England boss Tuchel the maximum time to prepare for the World Cup.
But the real key for Tuchel is that the players involved in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 will be able to be involved for the whole duration of the training camp in Florida.
Real Madrid star Bellingham, Bayern Munich star Kane and Arsenal midfielder Rice - along with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze - could all potentially be involved in a Champions League final.
Manchester City also have a big contingent of England players and it would have been a major distraction had they not been in Florida.
England plan to use Inter Miami’s training facility in Fort Lauderdale and they also plan to play two friendlies in Florida before the World Cup kicks off. Tuchel wants to be based in Miami to help his players get used to the heat of the United States as a boot camp.
England have also been drawn to play Ghana on June 23 then will face Panama on June 27. They also have two friendlies with Japan and Uruguay in March at Wembley as the final games before Tuchel names his squad for the World Cup.
But being largely based on the East Coast means that England will have to look at other training bases rather than their preferred option of a camp in Kansas City.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 24: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham of England talk during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Latvia at Wembley Stadium on March 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham could now be handed a longer break
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They could look at Dallas but FIFA also want nations to travel round and train within an hour of the stadium where they play each match.
Tuchel admits that the draw has changed their plans for base camps and may also affect their ideas on potential friendly opponents. Japan and Uruguay are pretty much agreed but they may look at teams of a similar style to play in June.
When asked if the draw has affected his plans, Tuchel said: "Yeah, I think so. We had some preferred options, and I think they're out of the window now, but let's see.
“We have some some people who know everything about every hotel now in the US and what is possible for us. We will get our head around it and make some decisions.”
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