ARLINGTON
England national team coach Thomas Tuchel should’ve been nothing but smiles after his team’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium.
But the Germany native did have a complaint for FIFA following the game.
Tuchel talked about moving photographers back because they blocked his view of the players during the national anthem.
“I have to tell you something. I’m begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national net, because I could not see my team in the national net, and I was waiting for this moment,” Tuchel said. “It was a very, very special moment today, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, half a meter away, and I felt this … ruined a little bit my experience today.”
The view from above before the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between England and Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Despite that initial setback, the manger still called the experience amazing and said he’s been feeling the energy over the past couple of days.
“It is very emotional,” he said. “Listen, when I was young, and then when I was younger, even when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of this kind of a career. I’m very grateful for everyone who helped me along the way, of course, my family and friends, and also every colleague who trusted me, who supported me, [I] have never done it alone.
“This is a very, very big ask, and a great honor, and it’s very emotional, and since yesterday I felt the spirit, and what it means to be part of a World Cup is just amazing, and I felt very, very alive the last two days. I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.”
The decorated coach comes into the World Cup looking to end the more than 60 years of futility for the English, who won their only World Cup in 1966. England comes into the tournament No. 4 in the world rankings.
Game schedule dates, times, locations June 12 Boston 10, Rangers 1 June 13 Boston 6, Rangers 3 June 14 Rangers 6, Boston 4 June 15 Minnesota 4, Rangers 2 June 16 Minnesota 12, Rangers 2 June 18 vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m., RSN June 19 vs. San Diego, 7:05 p.m., RSN June 20 vs. San Diego, 3:05 p.m., RSN June 21 vs. San Diego, 1:35 p.m., RSN June 22 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN June 23 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN June 24 at Miami, 11:10 a.m., RSN June 25 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., RSN June 26 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., CW June 27 at Toronto, 2:07 p.m., RSN June 28 at Toronto, 12:37 p.m., RSN June 29 at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m., ESPN June 30 at Cleveland, 5:40 p.m., RSN July 1 at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m., RSN June 9 Minnesota 100, Wings 76 June 11 Wings 85, Phoenix 70 June 13 Portland 84, Wings 83 June 15 Wings 96, Las Vegas 66 June 17 Golden State 91, Wings 80 June 20 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., CBS, Paramount+ June 22 at Seattle, 9 p.m., KFAA June 25 at Las Vegas, 9 p.m., KFAA June 28 vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m., CBS, Paramount+ July 2 at Connecticut, 7 p.m., KFAA, Amazon Prime Video 2026 season Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), 11 a.m., ESPN Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+ Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA All local matches at AT&T Stadium Group stage June 14 Japan 2, Netherlands 2 (Group F) June 17 England 4, Croatia 2 (Group L) June 22 Argentina vs. Austria (Group J), 12 p.m., Fox June 25 Japan vs. Sweden (Group F), 6 p.m., FS1 June 27 Argentina vs. Jordan (Group J), 9 p.m., Fox Knockout round June 30 Round of 32: Group E runner-up vs. Group I runner-up, 12 p.m., Fox July 3 Round of 32: Group D runner-up vs. Group G runner-up, 1 p.m., Fox July 6 Round of 16: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox July 14 Semifinal: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox May 2 FC Dallas 2, NY Red Bulls 0 May 9 FC Dallas 3, Salt Lake 1 May 13 Vancouver 3, FC Dallas 2 May 16 FC Dallas 3, San Jose 2 May 23 FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1 World Cup break July 22 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV July 25 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV June 20 Team Texas – David Starr’s Racing School June 20 Drift n Drag July 11 NASCAR Racing Experience July 11 Hearts in High Gear July 25 Drift n Drag
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 8:42 PM.
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Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.