Following their 3-0 friendly win against Wales, England can secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup when they play Latvia tonight.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have been faultless in qualifying so far, winning all five of their games without conceding a goal.
As a result, they can book their place at next summer’s tournament with two games to spare.
Here’s everything you need to know about how England can qualify for the 2026 World Cup and how to watch their match against Latvia on TV this evening.
When can England qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
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In UEFA qualifying, teams that finish top of their group will qualify directly for the World Cup, with the runners-up advancing to a play-off.
As it stands, England are top of Group K with three games remaining, four points ahead of Albania who have played one more game than the Three Lions, and eight points ahead of Serbia.
The Three Lions are largely expected to beat Latvia tonight and if they do, they will qualify for the World Cup.
Should England fail to win tonight, however, they will be forced to wait until November to confirm their qualification.
A draw or a defeat this evening would give Albania the opportunity to overtake Tuchel’s side – although England would need to lose their two qualifiers in November.
England’s remaining fixtures
Latvia vs England (October 14)
England vs Serbia (November 13)
Albania vs England (November 16)
How many European teams qualify for the World Cup?
A total of 16 teams from Europe will qualify for next summer’s tournament.
The 12 group winners will qualify automatically, whilst the other four places will be determined through a play-off system involving the 12 second-placed sides.
Latvia vs England kick-off time and how to watch on TV
England’s game with Latvia will take place tonight (Tuesday, October 14), with kick-off at 7.45pm UK time.
The match is being held at the Daugava Stadium in Riga and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and streamed live on ITVX.
When is the draw for the World Cup?
In 2026, the World Cup is expanding from 32 teams to 48, who will be drawn into 12 groups of four.
The draw is scheduled to take place on December 5, though not every team will be known by then as UEFA and inter-continental play-offs are set to take place next March.
When is the 2026 World Cup?
For the first time ever, the World Cup is being hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States of America, across 16 cities.
The 2026 tournament will begin on June 11 in Mexico City, with the final taking place in New Jersey on July 19.
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