Revealed: Thomas Tuchel’s first games as England manager as World Cup qualifying schedule is confirmed with Wembley double-header in March

England’s first opponents of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure have been revealed.

Tuchel will officially start work as England head coach on January 1, with his first task being to guide the Three Lions to the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

In Friday’s World Cup qualifying draw England were placed into Group K.

That will see them take on Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

England were knocked out by France at the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Gareth Southgate in charge.

The Three Lions were beaten in the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 by Italy and Spain respectively. 

Tuchel’s first game as England boss will be at home to Albania on March 21, with that game to be followed by a fixture against Latvia three days later.

The first away fixture for Tuchel will come away to Andorra on June 7, with England to face the same opponents at home on September 6.

England will get their World Cup qualifying campaign underway with a home game v Albania

A potentially challenging trip to take on Serbia awaits for England on September 9

However, it remains to be seen whether the return fixture against the Andorrans will be played at Wembley, due to scheduling congestion at the national stadium.

Coldplay are playing dates at the venue on September 3, 4, 7 and 8, meaning there will be a quick turnaround to transform the arena into a playing field, if indeed the turf is in adequate condition. 

A potentially challenging trip to face Serbia awaits on September 9 prior to an away game against Latvia on October 14.

England will then take on Serbia at Wembley on November 13 prior to concluding thei qualifying campaign away to Albania on November 16.