As England prepares for its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the most talked-about topics has not been tactics or player selection. Instead, attention has turned to head coach Thomas Tuchel, who confirmed he will not sing the national anthem before the match against Croatia.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the German manager was asked whether he would join England’s players and supporters in singing “God Save the King.”

Tuchel responded candidly, saying he does not yet feel comfortable doing so. “Not yet. I don’t think we’ve reached that point. Maybe in the final. I’m still a little shy. I don’t want to offend anyone or make that the main story right now,” he said with a smile.

The former Chelsea boss admitted that the anthem’s lyrics are “not that difficult” and emphasized that he feels at home in England. However, he believes the timing is not right and joked that perhaps he will sing it if England reaches the World Cup final on July 19.

The subject of foreign coaches and the national anthem has long been a sensitive issue in English football. Similar discussions arose during Lee Carsley’s interim spell in charge of the national team when he chose not to sing the anthem because of his Irish nationality.

Since taking over England in January 2025, Tuchel’s tenure has been closely scrutinized. Not only is he a foreign manager, but he is also German, adding another layer of attention given the historic rivalry between the two nations. For Tuchel, however, the priority remains on the pitch. England begins its World Cup campaign aiming to lift its first world title since 1966, and the manager hopes the spotlight stays focused on football rather than pre-match ceremonies.

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