Leeds United have a player set to face England in 2026, with the Three Lions warming up for the World Cup with some friendlies all over the world.
England have not yet qualified, but Leeds United should have representation at next year’s tournament. Thomas Tuchel’s men are on the cusp of qualifying for yet another major tournament, and this would be the 10th in succession.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, qualifiers are starting to heat up during the current break. England currently top Group K with 15 points, with the closest chasers being Albania and Serbia on eight and seven points respectively.
Serbia are set for two qualifiers in October against Albania and Andorra, and should they drop points in either of those two games, then England’s passage to next summer’s tournament will be sealed.
However, the work won’t be done there at that stage. England would then have to line up various friendlies in preparation for the tournament, needing to face teams from different confederations.
England could face Marcelo Bielsa and Ao Tanaka in March
There are nine contracted Leeds players on international duty, including a Welsh trio set to face England on Thursday in the current international break. Unfortunately, it means five of Leeds’ regular internationals have missed out.
That said, it’s an exciting time currently. Even if the likes of Ao Tanaka and Brenden Aaronson’s nations have already qualified, teams like Wales are sides to keep an eye on during the current break.
The likes of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Karl Darlow will face England at Wembley in a friendly but take part in a crunch match with Belgium in Cardiff on Monday in UEFA World Cup qualifying – Group J.
The pair are locked on 10 points, albeit with Wales having played a game more. Ezgjan Alioski’s North Macedonia top the group with 11, making it a huge fixture.
As for England, they will already have an eye on USA 2026. That is why Jacob Steinberg has revealed England are discussing a potential friendly against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay and Tanaka’s Japan in March.
He adds that it is not finalised yet, and could alter depending on the World Cup draw if England are to face either at the tournament proper, but they have desire for Asian and South American opposition before USA.
Ao Tanaka has a job on his hands to retain his Japan place
Bielsa and Uruguay have already qualified but Tanaka is the interesting name here. Graham Smyth reported that Leeds were interested in signing Ritsu Doan and he would also feature for Japan.
The competition for places is seriously tough, as Doan has been in incredible form in the Bundesliga and he isn’t the only exciting Japanese teammate of Tanaka who the Whites looked at. Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo was also on Leeds’ shortlist.
Speaking on international duty, though, Tanaka has admitted he is frustrated at Leeds. The 27-year-old has lost his place in the first-team and it’s bad timing in a World Cup year.
Speaking in Japan, he said: “When I watch the opposing teams and players play, I feel like I need to do more. It’s a difficult league to keep doing that for 38 games. There will be players who won’t be able to perform as well as they used to.
“So in that sense, the Premier League is a tough league. Even with the difficulty of players being unable to play due to injury, I feel once again that it is the best league in the world.”
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