19 March 2025
England and Wales dey ready to kick off dem World Cup qualifying campaign for 2026 dis week as dem gather to face some solid opponents. England go begin dem journey under new coach Thomas Tuchel for Wembley against Albania on March 21, followed by a match with Latvia on March 24. Meanwhile, Wales dey host Kazakhstan for Cardiff City Stadium on March 22 before dem waka go North Macedonia on March 25.
As qualifications start, di pressure dey high for Tuchel, wey don take charge of England after dem tough outings in previous tournaments. Di first match for Group K, wey include Serbia and Andorra, na crucial test for Tuchel as him hope to secure England’s place for di World Cup, wey happen for US, Canada, and Mexico beginning June 2026.
“Dis na big opportunity for us,” Tuchel talk. “We go need to perform well in all matches to stand a chance to qualify.” Dem go need every point, since di top team from each group don automatic qualify, while di second-placed teams go enter playoffs.
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy dey also encourage him boys to embrace di expectations as dem start dem own qualifying journey. Bellamy dey target to qualify for second World Cup in a row after exiting di last one at di group stage. “I welcome di expectations. We must play our game, regardless of who we dey face,” Bellamy talk, as di team dey prepared to face Kazakhstan, wey dey 81 places lower for FIFA rankings.
No be small challenge o, as Kazakhstan dey come with some recent decent form, but dem have not scored since 2023. Bellamy recognize say di match no go easy: “We have to earn di right,” he said. “International football dey tough.”
England players dey bring plenty experience to di squad, but Tuchel must fit blend dem talents into one strong team. Di coach demand high standards, but critics dey wonder how him go handle di pressure, especially from di media wey don dey scrutinize his short contract of 18 months. “If he no deliver, wey dem expect to see results?” na question wey dey on many lips.
Further afield, di South American qualifiers don start, with defending champions Argentina leading di table, while di Asian qualifiers dey in full swing with Iran, South Korea, and Japan performing well. For Africa, Morocco and Egypt don show strong form, and dem teams dey battle for di few slots available.
Di battle for qualification go span till November 2025, with five international breaks scheduled, di first one na 21-25 March. As di tension dey build, fans dey hope say dis week go mark di beginning of better things for England and Wales.
