The Football Association announced on Wednesday that England will play friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley Stadium next March as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
These matches will provide England manager Thomas Tuchel with his final chance to assess his team before making his squad selections for the tournament in May.
Following last week’s draw, which did not match England with any Asian or South American teams, Tuchel expressed a desire to face different opponents in March.
The fixtures have now been confirmed, with England set to play 16th-ranked Uruguay on March 27, followed by an encounter with 18th-ranked Japan three days later.
“We are very happy to have these two matches confirmed as we prepare for our World Cup year,” Tuchel stated.
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“We aimed to compete against two teams in the top 20 globally, while also challenging ourselves against non-European opponents.”
England’s last encounter with Uruguay resulted in a 2-1 loss during the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
They have faced Japan three times, with their most recent match occurring in 2010.
Tuchel’s squad is also expected to participate in two additional warm-up matches in the United States in the lead-up to the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
In the World Cup, England is placed in Group L, where they will compete against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Their first match is scheduled for June 17, 2026, against Croatia in Dallas.
