Doha, Qatar: “It’s coming home.” Since the release of the Three Lions ahead of Euro 96, the phrase has become far more than a football song.
It is England’s annual declaration of faith, a slogan that returns before every major tournament regardless of what happened before. Semi-final defeats, penalty shootout heartbreaks, near misses have all failed to kill the dream.
Now, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins across North America, the familiar question echoes once more across England.
Is it finally coming home?
The answer rests in the hands of a foreign manager. Thomas Tuchel was appointed for one and only reason and that is to win them a major title.
England have spent decades assembling squads packed with superstars. From the golden generation of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney to the modern era led by Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, talent has never been the issue. The challenge has always been turning that abundance of talent into silverware on the international stage.
That burden now belongs to Tuchel. The German arrives with a reputation as one of football’s sharpest tactical minds and a coach who thrives in knockout football. England’s Football Association effectively made a statement with his appointment: the time for learning is over. Results matter now.
Across friendlies and competitive fixtures, Tuchel has guided England to an impressive record, winning 10 of his 13 matches, drawing once and losing twice, giving him a win rate close to 80%. Under his leadership, England also became the first European team to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,
England's German head coach Thomas Tuchel sits on a ball during a training session. PICS: AFP
Tuchel believes his squad is ready for the challenge. Following England’s final World Cup warm-up 3 - 0 victory over Costa Rica, he declared that he had “wished for that” level of intensity and commitment from his players, praising the team’s readiness ahead of the tournament.
At the centre of everything stands Harry Kane. The England captain arrives at the World Cup in arguably the finest form of his career. After another prolific season with Bayern Munich, Kane enters the tournament as England’s leader and primary source of goals. Tuchel recently described his captain as “sharp” and in “perfect form” to lead the national team in North America.
Kane himself has made clear what this tournament means. “The World Cup is the pinnacle of a professional footballer’s career,” he said ahead of the competition. For a player who has already become England’s all-time leading scorer, only one achievement remains missing as a captain to lift an international trophy.
Even before a ball was kicked, Tuchel’s squad selection sparked debate. The omission of several high-profile names raised eyebrows among supporters and pundits, while questions remain over the balance of the team and the roles of some of England’s biggest stars.
For years England have often looked stronger on paper than on the pitch. The nation’s history is filled with examples of superstar names failing to reproduce club form on the biggest international stages.
Tuchel’s approach is different, rather than collecting stars, he appears determined to build balance. Which could prove crucial when England encounter elite opposition. That is the challenge awaiting England if they are to lift the trophy for the first time since 1966.
The encouraging sign is that this squad feels different. It blends youth and experience, with Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke, Elliot Anderson, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah and James Trafford among those set for their first World Cup, while the core remains built around Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, John Stones, Jordan Pickford and Reece James. Around them, Tuchel has assembled a group that appears more balanced than many of its predecessors.
With Kane leading from the front and Tuchel attempting to bring order to a nation blessed and burdened by talent in equal measure, England head into 2026 carrying the hopes of millions, and the dream that began in 1966 remains alive.
The question is the same as it has always been: has England finally got it right? And could football really be coming home?
