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England's 2025 rivals: Uruguay and Japan test top 20!
10 Dec
Summary
- England to face Uruguay and Japan in early 2025 matches.
- Both opponents are ranked within FIFA's top 20 globally.
- Coach sought non-European teams to raise competitive level.

England's 2025 campaign kicks off with challenging fixtures against Uruguay and Japan, both ranked within FIFA's top 20. These matches are strategically chosen to ensure a high level of competition, moving beyond European opponents to broaden the team's experience.
Uruguay, currently 16th in the world, will mark England's first opponent in 2025, with the fixture being Uruguay's first visit to England in two decades. The historical encounters between these two nations include a close match at the 2014 World Cup. Japan, ranked 18th, presents another significant test, with a limited but competitive history against England.
Coach Thomas Tuchel expressed satisfaction with the confirmed fixtures, highlighting the desire to face teams within the top 20 and outside of Europe. This approach aims to rigorously test the squad and generate excitement as the team prepares for its World Cup year.




