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The Football Association has thrown its full support behind England manager Thomas Tuchel despite the Three Lions’ heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the German remains central to the country’s long-term plans.
England’s dream of reaching their first men’s World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966 ended in dramatic fashion on Wednesday after Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener was cancelled out by late strikes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, sending defending champions Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain.
The result sparked criticism of Tuchel’s tactical changes during the closing stages, with many questioning his defensive substitutions as England surrendered their advantage. However, the FA has made it clear that the defeat has not altered its confidence in the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach.
FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham described the semi-final defeat as painful but praised Tuchel, his coaching staff and the players for their efforts throughout the tournament.
“It is heartbreaking to be so close. The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament,” Bullingham told BBC Sport.
He also acknowledged the unwavering support of England fans who followed the team throughout the World Cup.
“I would like to thank them all, and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home.”
Tuchel, who succeeded Gareth Southgate in January 2025, signed a two-year contract extension in February after impressing the FA with England’s progress under his leadership. The agreement is expected to keep him in charge until the UEFA European Championship in 2028, which England will co-host alongside Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup final, Tuchel insisted he remains fully committed to leading England into the next major tournament.
“We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros,” he said.
The German admitted the defeat was difficult to accept but stressed that England’s journey to the last four should not be overlooked.
“I’m looking forward to that even though right now it’s difficult to look that far ahead.”
Reflecting on England’s World Cup campaign, Tuchel noted that reaching the semi-finals remained a significant achievement, even if it fell short of the team’s ambitions.
“Of course, it’s a semi-final; a lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement.”
However, he acknowledged that neither he nor the players would take comfort in that assessment after coming so close to the final.
“No-one wants to hear that at the moment; me neither because we demand the most of ourselves. That’s just the nature of being competitive.”
England will now turn their attention to Saturday’s third-place play-off against France, with victory ensuring their highest World Cup finish since their historic triumph on home soil six decades ago.
While the late collapse against Argentina has left England reflecting on another missed opportunity, the FA believes Tuchel has laid a solid foundation for future success, with preparations for Euro 2028 now set to become the team’s primary focus.
