Tuchel sets WC target as new England coach

Newly announced England coach Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday said his aim was to help his team win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reported Xinhua.

Speaking at the official press conference after his appointment starting from January 1, 2025 was confirmed by the English Football Association (FA), Tuchel, who has signed an 18-month contract until the end of the World Cup, set his sights on lifting the trophy, 60 years after England won it for the only time in history.

"We have the ingredients and we fully trust that this is the moment," said the German, who follows Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello to become the third foreign coach of the England team.

"We will need luck, we will need momentum, we will need to be lucky that we don't have injuries and so on, and little decisions within the game. But we feel confident to add something from our experience in club football that may help," added the former Chelsea, PSG and Borussia Dortmund boss, who insisted that the work on winning the World Cup begins at the first moment.

"We have to prove ourselves all the time. We need to show it in qualification and then build an atmosphere with the supporters and country that special things can happen," he said.

The FA explained on Wednesday morning that Tuchel had actually signed his contract on October 8 after a rigorous selection process.

"I think it is pretty obvious that I am very emotional. I love what I am doing and am passionate about football," he commented, adding that the England job "feels big and feels like a privilege."

"Everyone can be assured we will do it with passion and emotions. We will try to install values, principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream come true," said Tuchel.