FA to interview England players as part of World Cup review

The Football Association has begun its review of England's 2026 World Cup campaign and will gather the views of the players who represented the country at the tournament. The governing body has started the evaluation it carries out after every major international competition, with head coach Thomas Tuchel and his backroom staff involved in the opening sessions held at St George's Park last week.

• The FA is following its standard post-tournament review process and will now add direct feedback from members of the squad.
• Tuchel and his coaching staff took part in early analysis sessions at St George's Park last week.
• Several players privately questioned the German's substitutions and tactical approach in the semi-final against Argentina.
• The permanent Kansas City base and the impact of repeated travel will come under scrutiny.
• The FA views the tournament as a success and has backed Tuchel ahead of Euro 2028 qualifying.

How England's World Cup review will work

The review follows the same framework the FA applies after every major finals. What sets this one apart is the role reserved for the players: members of Tuchel's squad are expected to be consulted and their feedback will be taken into account as part of a wider report into the team's campaign, which will be delivered at a later date.

The head coach and his assistants spent time at St George's Park last week unpacking the team's performances in North America. Those conversations formed the first stage of a broader evaluation that will assess the tournament as a whole.

Player concerns over Tuchel's decisions against Argentina

Bringing the squad into the process adds a delicate layer to the review. Following the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, in which England led through Anthony Gordon's goal, several internationals expressed private misgivings about how the closing stages were managed.

At least three senior players voiced doubts about Tuchel's approach in the final stretch of the match. The prevailing feeling in the dressing room was that the changes and the tactical setup became too defensive as England tried to protect the lead, contributing to the two late goals that ended their hopes of reaching the final.

The Kansas City base and its effect on the team

The review will also look into the impact of the permanent training base in Kansas City. England returned there after every fixture, a decision that involved substantial travelling across the tournament. The analysis will examine how that accumulated wear and tear influenced preparation and recovery.

Choosing a fixed location was intended to bring stability to a competition spread across several countries, but the overall cost of the travel is now a key question the report will need to address.

FA backs Tuchel despite semi-final frustration

Despite the internal criticism that surfaced after the semi-final, the Football Association retains a positive view of the campaign. England beat France in the bronze medal match to secure their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966, a result that carries significant weight in the overall assessment.

Key figures at the FA regard the tournament as a success and have made their backing for Tuchel clear ahead of the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. That support comes at a moment when the manager must manage the aftermath of the elimination and steer the group into the next cycle.

England's next fixtures after the World Cup

England will play their first match since the tournament on 26 September against Spain in the Nations League. The international window also includes two games against the Czech Republic and one against Croatia, with the Czechs facing England on either side of the Croatia fixture.

The return to competitive action will offer an early measure of the squad's mood after a demanding summer and a chance to start shaping the team for continental qualification.

Frequently asked questions about England's World Cup review