England qualify for 2026 World Cup after cruising to victory over Latvia | Football

England can start booking their flights (Picture: Getty Images)

England have officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup after easing to victory over Latvia.

The Three Lions turn into the primary European nation to qualify for next yr’s tournament, doing so with two games to spare.

The boys’s team might be heading across the Atlantic next summer out to finish what might be 60 years with out a major trophy within the tournament going down across 16 cities in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have enjoyed an impeccable qualifying campaign, winning all six matches to secure top spot in Group K.

Away in Riga on Tuesday night, England got the job done in style as they cruised to a snug 5-0 victory.

Anthony Gordon got the visitors off the mark after 26 minutes, cutting inside to seek out the far corner with a crisp finish.

After passing up a number of possibilities, Harry Kane got himself on the rating sheet with a high-quality strike from the sting of the box, doubling his tally from the penalty spot before half-time.

Latvia v England - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
England are unbeaten in qualifying (Picture: Getty)

England had a fourth when Djed Spence’s cross was diverted past his own goalkeeper by Latvia’s Andrejs Ciganiks within the second-half.

Eberechi Eze added a fifth late on.

England conclude their qualifying campaign against Serbia and Albania in November before Tuchel can begin to ponder who might be making his final squad next summer.

The World Cup officially gets underway on Thursday 11 June.

England will discover their group opponents when the World Cup draw takes place on 5 December.

Latvia v England - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
Kane scored twice in Riga (Picture: Getty)

How will the World Cup format work?

With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams, the format has been tweaked for 2026 and is now somewhat much like the European championships.

The 48 teams might be drawn into 12 groups of 4, with the highest two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

They might be joined by the eight best performing third-placed teams, with all other countries eliminated. The third-placed teams might be ranked first by points after which goal difference and goals scored.

From there, it’s a straightforward knockout format, because the 32 teams are whittled all the way down to the ultimate two. As ever, there might be a third-place play-off between the beaten semi-finalists.

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