England Secure World Cup Spot with 5-0 Win Over Latvia
England are heading to the 2026 World Cup after cruising past Latvia 5-0 in Riga—but the night wasn’t just about goals and clean sheets. With qualification confirmed and two games still to go, the real drama came from the stands.
Thomas Tuchel’s side has now won all six of their Group K matches without conceding a single goal, making England the first European team to secure a spot at next summer’s tournament. Gordon was a constant threat and got his goal after cutting inside and curling a shot into the far corner. Kane’s first came from nothing—a rocket from the edge of the box—and his second was a textbook penalty after being pulled down in the box. An own goal from Latvia’s Maksims Tonisevs made it four, and substitute Eberechi Eze wrapped things up with a composed finish in the 86th minute.
Fans vs Tuchel
The match took place at the Daugava Stadium, where fewer than 2,500 England fans made the trip. However, many of them weren’t shy about making their voices heard—for reasons beyond football.
It wasn’t a hostile atmosphere, but it definitely got awkward. During England’s previous match—a 3-0 friendly win over Wales—Tuchel criticised the Wembley crowd for being too quiet. The travelling support in Riga hit back with a chorus of sarcasm: “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll sing when we want,” followed by, “Are we loud enough for you?” and even, “Our support is f**king sh*t.” There were boos when his name was read out, and more chants during the match. Tuchel waved, smiled, and seemed to take it on the chin.
What’s next
Tuchel’s side still has two more group matches—against Serbia at home at Wembley on November 13th and away to Albania on November 16th in Albania’s capital, Tirana—but those are now formalities. England beat both teams comfortably in earlier qualifiers.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off next June. The group stage draw happens on December 5th in Washington, with US President Donald Trump set to appear alongside FIFA boss Gianni Infantino. And for the first time ever, the final will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show.
