England hammer Latvia 5-0 to clinch World Cup finals spot

England made light work of their latest hurdle in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, running out 5-0 winners over Latvia in Riga to confirm their place in next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The result not only sealed top spot in Group K but also underscored the commanding form they have carried throughout qualification.

From the opening whistle, the Three Lions showed their intent. As early as the 25th minute, Anthony Gordon picked his moment to break the deadlock, cutting inside from the left and curling a finish past Latvia’s goalkeeper. England’s superior structure and pressing unsettled a Latvian side ranked 137th in FIFA’s standings.

Just before the interval, England struck twice more. First, Harry Kane pounced on sloppy play from the hosts to drive home, and then he stepped up to convert a penalty after being fouled in the box. That brace had England ahead 3-0 at half-time.

The second half was more of the same. In the 57th minute, Djed Spence’s cross was deflected into his own net by Maksims Tonisevs to make it 4-0. And late on, substitute Eberechi Eze sealed the rout with a composed finish to cap the 5-0 triumph.

This emphatic win ensures England complete their qualifying run with six wins from six, 18 goals scored and, remarkably, zero conceded. In doing so, they became the first European side to guarantee their spot in the 2026 finals.

Captain Harry Kane again embodied the night’s dominance. His two goals extended his national tally and reinforced his reputation as England’s talisman. Speaking after the game, Kane described his current run of form as possibly the best of his career. Manager Thomas Tuchel was equally complimentary, praising the team’s intensity, unity, and defensive resilience throughout the campaign.

Though the group stage is now closed, England still have two matches remaining—at home to Serbia and away to Albania—to fulfill their fixture list. But with qualification secured, attention will swiftly turn to preparing for the challenges the World Cup itself will bring.

Their defensive record is particularly remarkable; over six matches, they have notched six clean sheets and faced very few threats on goal. That level of dominance puts Tuchel’s side among the most formidable in European qualifying, and signals that England intend to carry confidence and momentum into the finals.

As the dust settles on this group campaign, England can begin looking ahead to the global stage—with form, belief, and a clean record behind them. Their mission now is to translate qualifying dominance into success when the stakes are highest.

England