England crush Latvia 5-0 to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after six straight clean-sheet wins
England stormed into the 2026 World Cup with a merciless 5-0 victory over Latvia, maintaining a flawless qualifying campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel. The emphatic win in Riga marked England’s sixth straight triumph — all without conceding a single goal.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring midway through the first half, darting in from the left before slotting coolly past Latvian keeper Krišjānis Zviedris. From that moment, England dictated every blade of grass.
Captain Harry Kane struck twice before the break — first capitalising on a defensive lapse, then calmly converting a penalty after being brought down in the box. His double effectively ended the contest before half-time.
The pressure didn’t ease in the second half. Latvia’s Maksims Tonisevs deflected Djed Spence’s cross into his own net to make it four, and substitute Eberechi Eze completed the rout late on with a composed finish.
For Tuchel, the win was more than just another qualification milestone — it was a statement. “We had six matches, we won all six, and we didn’t concede a goal,” he told reporters after the match. “It’s a special moment. What we are building is very precious, and we will keep building.”
The manager hinted he may experiment with his lineup in the remaining group games but insisted that England would “stay competitive” to maintain their momentum. “We owe it to ourselves and to our fans,” he said.
In the dressing room, Harry Kane delivered a rousing message to his teammates, urging them to keep their standards high. “Everyone will be ready to keep this going,” Tuchel revealed. “No one will take this for granted.”
The win also gave England supporters another reason to chant Tuchel’s name — though not without a bit of mischief. Fans aimed playful songs at the German coach after his recent comments about Wembley’s atmosphere. Tuchel, smiling afterwards, said he took the chants “in good humour.”
England’s performance capped a perfect qualifying phase, scoring 18 goals and conceding none. Their dominance has made them one of the first teams in Europe to book a ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
While the squad can now breathe easier, Tuchel is already thinking ahead. The November fixtures against Serbia and Albania will serve as preparation for the challenges ahead an opportunity to fine-tune tactics and test new combinations before the tournament.
For England fans, this was more than just another win. It was a glimpse of a side that looks sharper, hungrier, and more complete than it has in years. From Kane’s finishing to Gordon’s flair and Eze’s composure, the message from Riga was clear England aren’t just qualifying; they’re warning the world