On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, England receives a "special order" from coach Thomas Tuchel

During the last stage of preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Thomas Tuchel made a quite particular demand of the English squad. This is part of a strategy to ensure the "Three Lions" acclimatize optimally to the competition environment in North America, the host region for this summer's event.

England players are advised to vacation in US time zones to be ready for the 2026 World Cup

According to BBC Sport, Thomas Tuchel has encouraged England players to choose holiday destinations within US time zones before gathering for the 2026 World Cup preparations. This move aims to help the players get used to the time difference early, minimizing the impact of jet lag when entering the most important tournament on the planet.

The England team will be based in Kansas City, Missouri, during the World Cup. Their opening match against Croatia is hosted in Dallas. Both locations are six hours behind the UK. Meanwhile, the "Three Lions" remaining two group stage matches take place in Boston and New Jersey, which are five hours behind the United Kingdom.

Not only facing time zone differences, teams participating in the 2026 World Cup must also adapt to the hot weather. Temperatures at most venues are predicted to frequently exceed 26°C. According to reports from England, some players have chosen to vacation in the US or the Caribbean right after the club season ends to meet the coaching staff's requirements.

Most of the England players will be in Florida on Monday to begin the pre-World Cup training camp. Tuchel will welcome 21 of the 26 called-up players. Five names — Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Dean Henderson — will join later due to their participation in European cup finals last week.

Additionally, Alex Scott, Jason Steele, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, and Ethan Nwaneri have also been called up for the pre-tournament training phase. During the preparation period, England will play two friendlies: against New Zealand in Tampa on June 6 and against Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10.

The 2026 World Cup will be Thomas Tuchel's first major tournament as England head coach. The German manager has achieved an impressive record since taking over the "Three Lions" in early 2025. England won all eight World Cup qualifiers without conceding a single goal. However, the team has not won any match in 2026, following a draw with Uruguay and a defeat to Japan during the March friendlies.

With a contract running until the end of EURO 2028, Tuchel is expected to help England end their decades-long trophy drought. The 2026 World Cup is the first major test for that ambition.

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