Tuchel: England's World Cup 2026 Group is Brutally Tough — Panama Still a Mystery
5 December 2025
World Cup 2026 Draw: England's Group in Focus
German coach Thomas Tuchel, England's manager, admitted the group is tough after the 2026 World Cup draw.
The 2026 World Cup draw, to be staged in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, was held Friday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, yielding largely balanced groups.
Tuchel on the Opponents and Path Forward
England topped Group 12, with Croatia, Panama, and Ghana.
In a BBC interview, Tuchel said: "It's a tough group and a difficult opener, facing two World Cup teams, both strong".
He added: "I don't know much about Panama yet, but we'll learn about them before the tournament".
Tuchel continued: "I'm only experienced in the Champions League group stage; the path forward is to show respect and stay focused on topping the group".
He added: "The situation always looks tough like our group, but we are confident we will be ready when the tournament starts".
He concluded: "I have no preference; the big teams take the draw seriously, and we must face reality as it is. Now we know our opponents and may arrive late, especially if our players reach knockout rounds in Europe".
