England squad announcement LIVE: Thomas Tuchel to pick players for Nations League fixtures

Why is this international break so long?

Previously, there were three breaks of two weeks in September, October and November for international football, with nations generally playing two games in each window. That has changed in 2026-27.

Instead of separate breaks in September and October, there is now a three-week gap for international fixtures across late September and early October with four matches being played.

This is in part due to the later start to elite domestic football season this year; with the 2026 World Cup final taking place on 19 July, most top divisions did not resume until mid to late August.

Usually the first international break takes place in early September. By pushing it back, it allows players are longer time before they cross continents to represent their countries again. It also avoids the possibility of pausing domestic football just one or two games after their seasons start.

The readjusted schedule also allows for an extra week of domestic football between the end of the first break and the start of the second in November.

Tuchel regrets not eating Azteca turf after win over Mexico

Thomas Tuchel regrets not eating any of the grass at the Azteca Stadium after England's World Cup win against Mexico.

His Three Lions beat the co-hosts 3-2 in the last-16 tie in July, despite playing much of the second half with 10 men following Jarell Quansah's red card.

England went on to reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Argentina, before beating France in the Bronze medal match for third place.

Tuchel, though, made a bizarre admission during an interview with Daniel Sturridge for the FA's forthcoming feature 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey'.

He said: "I texted a friend after the match and I just wrote, 'I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever'. That was the feeling. That was the moment."

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our Three Lions live page.

This morning, England men's national team manager Thomas Tuchel will announce his squad for the upcoming international break.

At 10:00 BST, Tuchel's squad list will be released before the German sits down to talk to the media at 11.

In the meantime, we're going to bring you up to date with all things England, including who they'll face, and who is injured, and the key questions facing Tuchel as he makes his decision.

Thanks for joining us.

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