England officially secured their place in the 2026 World Cup with a dominant 5-0 win over Latvia on Tuesday, completing an unbeaten run in qualifying Group K. Thomas Tuchel’s side confirmed their status as group winners, with two matches still remaining next month.
The match at Daugava Stadium was marked by England fans playfully mocking Tuchel during the first half after his recent criticism of the Wembley crowd’s quiet support. Despite the distractions, England’s performance was clinical, as they controlled the game from start to finish.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute, taking advantage of space on the right to curl a precise shot into the far corner. Harry Kane then added two goals before halftime, bringing his England tally to 76. Kane’s first goal was a composed finish from a slight opening at the edge of the box, while his second came from a penalty after a handball by Latvia’s Antonijs Cernomordijs.
Latvia, ranked 137th in the world, were never able to threaten England’s defense. Jordan Pickford kept a clean sheet, marking his ninth consecutive shutout for England, and England’s sixth in as many qualifying wins. The team’s defense, led by John Stones and Ezri Konsa, remained solid against the rare Latvia advances.
The fourth goal came courtesy of an own goal by Maksims Tonisevs, deflecting a Djed Spence cross, and Eberechi Eze added the fifth, sealing a comfortable victory. England’s strategy was clear: dominate possession and capitalize on every chance. Possession statistics reflected this, with England holding 70 percent of the ball and producing 17 shots on target compared to Latvia’s six.
Tuchel fielded a strong lineup, resting Marc Guéhi to manage player workload. Myles Lewis-Skelly returned at left-back, while Ezri Konsa partnered Stones in central defense. England faced a defensive 5-4-1 formation from Latvia, but their superior pace and technique made the breakthrough inevitable.
The atmosphere in the stadium reflected a mix of celebration and gentle criticism of Tuchel, with chants teasing him about fan support and the English sense of humor shining through. Despite the rain and a late kickoff, 2,456 England supporters watched the team’s flawless display, many leaving early once the result was assured.
Latvia had previously drawn at home against Andorra and had only recorded two wins in the last two years, highlighting the gulf in quality between the teams. England maintained focus, with key interventions like Konsa’s stop against Vladislavs Gutkovskis ensuring that their clean sheet remained intact.
Tuchel praised the squad’s performance and the fans’ engagement despite their cheeky jibes. Anthony Gordon and Kane led the attack with precision, while Eze’s late contribution emphasized England’s depth and versatility.
The 5-0 victory also reinforced England’s psychological advantage heading into the World Cup finals. Tuchel now turns attention to the serious business of preparing the squad for the tournament, with the confidence of an unbeaten qualifying campaign behind him.
With their qualification secured, England can focus on refining tactics and building momentum for next summer’s World Cup in the United States, ensuring they arrive at the finals as one of the tournament favorites.