Thomas Tuchel has revealed just how deeply England’s dramatic World Cup victory over Mexico affected him, admitting the occasion left him wishing he had taken an unusual souvenir from the Azteca Stadium.
England defeated the tournament co-hosts 3-2 in a tense last-16 match in July, surviving much of the second half with 10 men after Jarell Quansah was sent off.
The win became one of the defining moments of England’s campaign. Tuchel’s side later reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina, then recovered to beat France in the third-place play-off and secure the bronze medal.
Reflecting on the Mexico match for an upcoming Football Association feature about England’s World Cup run, Tuchel said the emotion of the night was so strong that he later regretted not eating some of the Azteca pitch as a permanent reminder of the experience.
The result carried extra significance because Mexico had lost only twice in their previous 89 competitive matches at the famous stadium.
For Tuchel, however, the night was about more than the scoreline. He viewed it as evidence of the unity that had developed inside the England squad during the tournament.
That bond was particularly clear after Jordan Henderson suffered a tournament-ending arm injury while celebrating the victory. Henderson fell over an advertising hoarding, immediately bringing the celebrations around him to a halt.
Tuchel was struck by how quickly the rest of the squad responded. Players gathered around Henderson, protected him and stayed with him rather than continuing the celebrations, a reaction the England coach saw as a strong demonstration of the group’s togetherness.
England eventually finished third at the World Cup, but Tuchel believes the tournament delivered something more important for the longer term. He feels the experience strengthened his connection with the players and created a stronger foundation for the next phase of his tenure.
Attention now turns to England’s next competitive challenge. They face world champions Spain on 26 September in their opening match of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign.
The 2028 European Championship is also already part of Tuchel’s thinking as England continue their pursuit of a first major senior men’s international trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966.
After the progress made during the latest World Cup, Tuchel believes England have moved closer to becoming the team he wants them to be. The tournament, in his view, strengthened the squad’s identity, deepened the relationship between players and coaching staff, and provided a platform that can now be developed further.