England vs Albania

Wembley Stadium forms the backdrop for a ‘David vs Goliath’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between England and Albania.

After reaching the Euro 2024 final but slumping to a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the grand final, England now switch their focus to World Cup qualification with an eye on the 2026 tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The Three Lions haven’t lifted a major international trophy since 1966, but a new sheriff is in town to help them change that. Despite guiding England to two major finals, Gareth Southgate has made way for Thomas Tuchel. The German, who previously won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, now faces his first international test. Tuchel’s first assignment is to ensure England avoid the embarrassment of missing a World Cup for the first time since 1994 – a tournament ominously held in the USA.

Meanwhile, Tuchel’s highly-awaited England debut comes against Albania, a rising football nation that featured in Euro 2024 last summer. Though they exited at the group stage, it was only their second appearance at a major tournament. With no World Cup history to their name, Albania will arrive at Wembley determined to pull off a shock and take a step toward their first-ever appearance on football’s biggest stage. Ranked 61 places below England in FIFA’s standings, Sylvinho’s men face a daunting challenge, especially given their recent form (W1, D1, L3). History is not on their side either, having lost all six previous encounters with the Three Lions while netting just a single goal across those meetings.