Thomas Tuchel has expressed his strong ‘belief’ and ‘excitement’ that England are capable of progressing ‘a long way’ at the 2026 World Cup, as the team gets ready to fly to the United States ahead of the tournament’s kickoff this summer.

The Three Lions will be travelling to Miami, Florida today for a pre-tournament camp, which includes two friendly matches, before moving to their permanent base in Kansas City on Saturday, 13 June.

Having already announced his 26-man squad more than a week ago, Tuchel has been busy finalising the final logistical details and tactical preparations to ensure England’s readiness for the competition.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Tuchel said: “When I reconnected with the matches, structured our training sessions, and organised our meetings to bring the team back together in Florida, I saw immense quality. That gave me complete belief and excitement that we can go a long way.”

He continued: “Over the past few days, we’ve had tough conversations, positive ones, and emotional ones. The players’ responses showed how much they care. Even those not selected sent warm and encouraging messages, and that kind of reaction tells me we are moving in the right direction.”

“That personally gives me great motivation. I can’t wait to board the plane, look around and see the full team behind me, arrive in Florida, and do what I love most: coaching.”

The England manager also addressed how he and his staff are preparing to handle the high temperatures expected during the World Cup, insisting that the conditions will not be used as an excuse for underperformance.

Tuchel explained: “It’s not our biggest enemy, but certainly not an advantage after such a long and demanding season for our players. We’re not entirely used to the heat and humidity, and even altitude will play a role if we face teams like Mexico.”

He added: “We know the challenges ahead. The heat is one of them, but we’re ready. We’ve studied the players’ responses to hot conditions, created cooling strategies, and received assistance from Team GB and experts worldwide to help the players adapt.”

“The first match will be indoors with air conditioning, so that should help. From there, we’ll adjust as needed. It’s a challenge, but we’re not making excuses—just acknowledging what we must overcome.”

England will open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June, followed by group-stage matches against Ghana and Panama.