England's national football team, the Three Lions, is set to play against Uruguay and Japan in March. These matches will serve as their final two games before head coach Thomas Tuchel selects his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The Three Lions will face off against Uruguay on Friday, 27th March, followed by a match with Japan on Tuesday, 31st March. Both games are scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium. Coach Tuchel is expected to announce his chosen squad in May.
Thomas Tuchel, England manager, said:
"We are really pleased to have these two fixtures confirmed as our World Cup year takes shape. We wanted to play two teams ranked in the top 20 in the world but also test ourselves against opponents from outside of Europe."
Uruguay currently holds the 16th spot while Japan ranks at number 18 in FIFA's men's rankings. Both countries have secured their places at the upcoming World Cup tournament which will run from June 11th through July 19th across Canada, Mexico and United States.
Warm-up games before the tournament
England is expected to participate in two warm-up games on American soil prior to the commencement of the tournament. They have been drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Tuchel’s team will compete all three of their group stage matches within US borders. Their first match against Croatia is slated for June 17th followed by a game with Ghana on June 23rd; both kicking off at 21:00 BST (British Summer Time). Their final group stage match will be against Panama on June 27th starting at 22:00 BST.
These preparatory matches provide an excellent opportunity not only for England but also for Uruguay and Japan to fine-tune their strategies, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare for the grand stage of the 2026 World Cup. For sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike, these matches will offer a glimpse into what can be expected in the upcoming tournament.
