Thomas Tuchel has the full backing of English football's leadership

The Football Association (FA) leadership, through CEO Mark Bullingham, has declared full support for the coach who led the "Three Lions" to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup. "We continue with the contract until the home Euros. I'm looking forward to it, even though it's hard to look that far ahead right now," Tuchel told BBC Sport.

Addressing the immense criticism he faced for his ultra-defensive tactics, which led to a 1-0 lead turning into a 1-2 defeat against Argentina, the German coach responded: "Many great footballing nations exit before the semi-finals, so it is an achievement. Of course, after losing a big game, it's hard to evaluate. Nobody wants to hear that right now; neither do I, because we always demand the maximum from ourselves. That's simply the nature of competitiveness."

Tuchel signed a two-year contract extension in February, having been appointed in January 2025 for an 18-month mission to win the World Cup. His average annual salary, according to English media, is around 5.9 million euros. Despite the disappointment of the semi-final loss, England's progression will be viewed internally as a relative success. Mark Bullingham's words confirm this.

"It's heartbreaking to be so close. Both the players and Thomas gave their all, and the team, coaches, and staff couldn't have worked harder during the tournament. I want to thank them all – and also extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing fans here in the USA and back home," stated the FA CEO.