The Guardian reported that England hopes to play against opponents from South America and Asia as part of the World Cup preparations and has discussed hosting a friendly match against Uruguay and Japan in March.
Tuchel's team is approaching to qualifying for the World Cup next summer, and plans for the warm-up match are also being formulated. Negotiations have been made regarding potential opponents in March’s international match day, but it is understood that the FA has not yet made a final decision. The FA is waiting for England to ensure they qualify for the 2026 World Cup before finalizing the arrangements, and may also wait and see the results of the World Cup draw held in December.
It is understood that Wembley Stadium is likely to hold a friendly match against Uruguay and Japan, and both teams have been qualified for the World Cup. Since Tuchel took over early this year, England has faced primarily European opponents, so it is necessary to test against teams of different styles before the World Cup, with the Three Lions losing to Africa's Senegal in a friendly match in June.
The last time England played against South American team was in March 2024, when it lost to Brazil in a friendly home match. They have not played against teams from the AFC since defeating Iran in 2022. Another consideration for the FA during World Cup preparations will be to ensure England is ready for possible hot conditions in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The team will likely head to Miami in early June for pre-match training camp and play two friendly matches to accommodate the hot weather. Tuchel went to the United States last summer to inspect the conditions of the Club World Cup and gained a clear understanding of the challenges brought by the weather.