England are the first European team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 5-0 win over Latvia in Riga on Tuesday night.Â
Anthony Gordon opening the scoring on a wet evening at the Daugava Stadium before Harry Kane grabbed a quickfire brace shortly before the interval.
Maksims Tonisev inadvertently turn the ball into his own net after Djed Spence’s cross missed the intended target, Declan Rice, in the 58th minute.
Substitute Eberechi Eze got in on the act late on when he cut inside to fire in the Three Lions’ fifth as Thomas Tuchel’s men booked their plane tickets to next summer’s tournament in North America.
England book spot at 2026 FIFA World Cup
The result sees England maintain their 100 per cent record and means they cannot be caught at the top of Group K. They are on 18 points after winning all six of their matches while scoring 18 goals and conceding none.
Their nearest challengers, Albania, are on 11 points while Serbia are one point further back with two games remaining. Both teams are now duking it out for second place and a play-off spot.
Tuchel can now use the final two group games to give the fringe players an opportunity to prove their worth and rest some of his key men next month.
England host Serbia at Wembley Stadium on 13 November and travel to Albania on 16 November.
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