England head coach Thomas Tuchel on 10 June played down his side's standing as a title contender for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the Three Lions must first prove themselves on the global stage after more than six decades without lifting the trophy. Tuchel was speaking at a pre-match press conference in Orlando ahead of England's final warm-up fixture against Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Tuchel's Assessment of England's Chances

When asked directly whether England belonged among the tournament favourites, Tuchel pushed back. 'How many favorites are there?' he replied. 'We're not the top favorites. We can't be because we haven't won it for so many years. There are proven winners in the tournament with more success.'

The German coach framed his side as challengers rather than frontrunners. 'We compete, we dream big and we know what it takes. Responsibility is on the effort and that is where the focus is. We see ourselves as competitors and challengers. We want to go all the way but I don't think we are the heavy favorites,' he said. This comes after an unconvincing 1-0 victory over New Zealand on Saturday — a result that did little to silence doubters ahead of the tournament proper.

Rice Named Vice-Captain Alongside Kane

Tuchel also addressed his decision to hand the vice-captaincy to Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, with Harry Kane retaining the captain's armband. 'Declan and Harry are the two guys with the armband. Harry is our captain — no doubt about it. And Declan is our second captain. When Harry wasn't in camp and didn't play against Wales, we had a choice, and it was a very quick one from me to give it to Declan,' Tuchel explained.

The coach was effusive in his praise of Rice's footballing intelligence. 'He has a high football IQ. He takes care of the formation and structure, the adaptation, and the rhythm of our game. He's had two outstanding seasons with Arsenal... He's one of the best midfielders in Europe at the moment, full of confidence. That's why he is my vice-captain,' Tuchel said.

Camp Mood and World Cup Build-Up

Tuchel described the current mood in the England camp as 'relaxed', though he acknowledged that pressure would build naturally as the squad moves to their tournament base. 'The tension will just rise naturally, especially when we change location to Kansas and then have four days to prepare for the first game,' he noted.

England open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on 17 June against Croatia — a fixture loaded with history given England's 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to the same opponents. Notably, this is England's first World Cup under Tuchel, who took charge following Gareth Southgate's departure after Euro 2024.

The Road Ahead

With the tournament co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, England face a demanding path. Their opener against Croatia will be a litmus test of whether Tuchel has sharpened the tactical identity that Southgate's England often lacked in knockout moments. The warm-up results have been modest, but Tuchel appears intent on managing expectations while quietly building belief within the squad.