Key Takeaways:
- England will meet Uruguay on Friday, 27 March and Japan on Tuesday, 31 March at Wembley Stadium
- Head coach Thomas Tuchel is scheduled to announce his World Cup squad in May
- England have been drawn with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in Group L for the 2026 World Cup
Preparation Fixtures Confirmed for the Three Lions
England’s national football team will host Uruguay and Japan at Wembley in March, marking their last fixtures before head coach Thomas Tuchel finalises his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The Three Lions are set to clash with Uruguay on Friday, 27 March, followed by a contest against Japan on Tuesday, 31 March. Thomas Tuchel is then due to reveal his World Cup squad in May.
Our #ThreeLions’ March opponents have been confirmed ✅
Thomas Tuchel’s team will play Uruguay and Japan at @wembleystadium.
— England (@England) December 10, 2025
“We are really pleased to have these two fixtures confirmed as our World Cup year takes shape,” said Tuchel. “We wanted to play two teams ranked in the top 20 in the world, but also to test ourselves against opponents from outside of Europe.”
Strength of Opposition Ahead of World Cup Challenge
Uruguay enter the encounter ranked 16th in the Fifa men’s standings, while Japan sit 18th. Both teams have already qualified for the global tournament, which will be held from 11 June to 19 July and staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
| Fixture | Date | Venue | Fifa Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| England v Uruguay | Friday, 27 March | Wembley Stadium | England (TBC), Uruguay (16) |
| England v Japan | Tuesday, 31 March | Wembley Stadium | England (TBC), Japan (18) |
World Cup Group Stage Assignments and Timings
England, who are also anticipated to schedule two warm-up fixtures in America prior to the tournament, have been drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
All group stage contests for England will take place in the United States. The squad opens their campaign against Croatia on 17 June, followed by a fixture with Ghana on 23 June, both commencing at 21:00 BST. England’s final group match will see them take on Panama on 27 June, with the match getting underway at 22:00 BST.
| Opponent | Date | Kick-off (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 17 June | 21:00 | United States |
| Ghana | 23 June | 21:00 | United States |
| Panama | 27 June | 22:00 | United States |
