England Sets Friendly Matches Against Uruguay, Japan in March

England will host friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley Stadium in March 2024, as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The announcement was made by the Football Association on December 10. These matches will serve as crucial opportunities for England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, to assess his squad ahead of finalizing the team selection in May.

The fixtures are scheduled for March 27 against the 16th-ranked Uruguay, followed by a match against the 18th-ranked Japan on March 30. Tuchel expressed his satisfaction with the confirmed matches, stating, “We are really pleased to have these two fixtures confirmed as our World Cup year takes shape. We wanted to play two teams ranked in the top 20 in the world, but also to test ourselves against opponents from outside of Europe.”

Historically, England faced Uruguay in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat. The national team has met Japan three times, with their last encounter occurring in 2010. Both upcoming matches will provide valuable experience as England gears up for the World Cup, where they will compete in Group L against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

In addition to these fixtures, England is expected to play two more warm-up matches in the United States just prior to the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The team’s opening match is scheduled for June 17, 2026, against Croatia in Dallas.

The upcoming friendlies will not only help Tuchel finalize his squad but also allow the players to adapt to different styles of play, an essential preparation for the global competition ahead.