Thomas Tuchel slams FIFA over huge England dilemma – ‘debatable if it is sensible’

On Mar 25, 2025

England’s next fixtures are not until June, sandwiched in-between the Champions League final and start of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in America

18:00, 25 Mar 2025

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 23: Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, talks to the media during a press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 23, 2025 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

England boss Thomas Tuchel has questioned the decision to have internationals in June(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel admits he will be in the bad books of club bosses this summer – even though he shouldn’t have to be.

Tuchel has made a winning start to life as England manager following back-to-back triumphs against Albania and Latvia in his side’s opening World Cup qualifiers. But life promises to get much more difficult when he next gets together with his squad at the start of June.

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England have two fixtures, against Andorra in a World Cup qualifier, before hosting Senegal in a friendly in Nottingham. The Andorra game is expected to take place in Barcelona on June 7, before England face Senegal three days later.

But the double-header is sandwiched in-between the Champions League final and start of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in America, which kicks off on June 14.

It will see football’s fixture chaos scale unprecedented heights – and place huge demands on all those players involved.

England's Reece James (centre) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game against Latvia with team-mates

A number of England players will feature at this summer’s Club World Cup(Image: PA)

And despite those Chelsea and Manchester City players needing to be with their clubs in America three days before the Club World Cup begins, the FA have confirmed Tuchel can still pick them for the Senegal game if he wants to.

Tuchel will be keen to have the core of his squad together in this international break, as he continues to build towards next summer’s World Cup. Which means he will risk the wrath of club managers.

And Tuchel admits he is concerned about the lack of rest his players are facing – and has urged FIFA to either scrap or move the international break in June to another time in the calendar.

Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Latvia

Thomas Tuchel has completed his first two games as England manager(Image: The FA via Getty Images)

Tuchel said: “I am just worried about the pause of the players. I am not so concerned about the amount of games the players play in total. I am more concerned that they never have a real break, of three to four weeks.

“Maybe they have three weeks holiday, but maybe after five days they play another competition. That’s the problem. They should have a minimum three, or three-and-a-half weeks, of preparation and then it would be better for everyone.

“In general, being a club coach or international coach, the FIFA June window is I think debatable if it makes sense. So the June window is not ideal for anyone, especially the players.

“But it’s there. I think it’s FIFA who can maybe align the calendar, and maybe find a gap where we put this window somewhere else, to open the window for the better of the players.”

Tuchel, who could have more than 10 players involved in the Club World Cup, will have some big selection decisions to make. And he has suggested he could be forced to shuffle his pack ahead of the Senegal game.

He said: “We have some time to think about the selection. It is between the Champions League Final and the Club World Cup.

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“It is one qualifier, and maybe the chance to change the squad a bit in between, and give players the chance to play the friendly who are not involved in the World Club Cup. We will see.”