As the 2026 World Cup qualifiers heat up, England’s international schedule is about to face a tricky situation.
With the Club World Cup scheduled to take place in the US in June, England manager Thomas Tuchel is set to negotiate with Europe’s top clubs over the availability of key players for both national and club duties.
Potential Player Clashes as England Prepares for June Fixtures
The June international window is creating a scheduling conflict for England’s most important players.
Eleven potential call-ups for England’s World Cup qualifier in Andorra, along with a friendly against Senegal, may clash with the newly introduced month-long Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 15 in Ohio.
This overlap affects star players such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, among others.
Tuchel has made it clear that England cannot afford to waste time in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
He will want his full squad available for the June 7 and 10 matches, but the FA holds the final say on player selection for those games.
Tuchel Suggests Adjusting the Squad to Accommodate Club World Cup Commitments
Tuchel has raised the possibility of sending England players to the US after their World Cup qualifier in Andorra.
He suggested that there could be opportunities to rotate the squad and give some players the chance to play in the friendly match against Senegal.
Tuchel also expressed frustration with the FIFA June window, calling it awkward for players who get very little downtime before being thrust into intense international and club commitments.
He believes FIFA should reconsider the timing of the June window to avoid overloading players.
Young Players Caught Between Club and International Duty
In addition to the senior team’s dilemma, England’s Under-21 squad faces a direct clash with the Club World Cup.
The U21s are defending their European Championship crown in Slovakia, but clubs like Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund will have the final say on whether their young players are available for international duty.
James McAtee, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and possibly Levi Colwill will have to weigh the pros and cons of playing in the European Championship versus participating in the Club World Cup with their respective clubs.
The Growing Concern Over Player Welfare and Burnout
The number of games in the international calendar has long been under scrutiny, especially with concerns over player burnout.
The Club World Cup requires teams to arrive three days before their first match, so players can still play for their countries before heading to the tournament.
However, as the calendar fills up with more competitions, the pressure on players grows.
Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane spoke out about the challenges of balancing club and international commitments, emphasizing the difficulty of managing his physical and mental health during such a packed schedule.
Kane acknowledged that both playing for Bayern Munich and representing England are of utmost importance, but finding a balance between the two remains a challenge.
He noted that while clubs often have financial incentives to prioritize competitions, players are the ones who bear the physical strain.
Despite this, Kane admitted that he loves playing football and is not one to complain about his schedule.
Dan Ashworth in Talks to Return to the FA Amid Restructure
In other football news, former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth is in talks to return to the Football Association (FA), where he previously worked before leaving in 2018.
Ashworth’s role in improving team integration at St George’s Park was highly regarded, and the FA is currently undergoing a restructuring of its headquarters.
Ashworth is considered a strong candidate to help lead this change, though discussions over his potential return are not expected to impact the future of John McDermott at the FA.
The FA’s ongoing transformation may be a sign of a new direction for English football, with key figures like Ashworth potentially playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport in England.