England reportedly seeking friendly against South American giants ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

England are just one step away from securing a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and for that reason, they’re already mapping out their preparation ahead of the tournament, which will be hosted next year by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Among the rumored plans is a friendly against one of South America’s top teams.

According to The Guardian, Thomas Tuchel wants his team to face non-European opponents in the lead-up to the World Cup, aiming to adapt to styles and characteristics similar to those they might encounter during the summer tournament.

With that goal in mind, one of the options is a friendly against Uruguay in March 2026, potentially to be played at Wembley. If confirmed, The Three Lions would be in for a tough test, considering the individual and collective quality of their potential opponents. It would also serve as a preview of what they might face if drawn against a CONMEBOL side — a very likely scenario given that up to seven South American teams will qualify for the tournament.

Uruguay finished South America’s World Cup qualifiers tied for third place in the standings with 28 points, alongside Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay — one point behind Ecuador and ten behind leaders Argentina. Across 18 qualifying matches, they recorded 7 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. Among their top results were victories over Argentina in Buenos Aires and Brazil in Montevideo.

Another factor that makes Uruguay a dangerous opponent is the quality of their squad. Marcelo Bielsa’s team — the manager who previously coached Leeds United in the Premier League — features stars such as Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur, and Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte.

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In addition to Uruguay, which would serve as a valuable test against a South American team, The Guardian also reports that England are considering an Asian opponent. Japan appear to be the preferred choice, with that match also scheduled for March at Wembley.