England’s World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign took a dramatic turn for the better on September 9, 2025, as the Three Lions delivered a statement 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade. The emphatic win not only maintained England’s 100 percent record in Group K but also served as a much-needed response to critics who had questioned the team’s performances under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
Prior to the trip to the notoriously hostile Rajko Mitić Stadium, England had won all four of their opening qualifiers, yet doubts lingered about their style and attacking ruthlessness. A laborious 2-0 win over Andorra just days earlier had done little to inspire confidence. But in Belgrade, Tuchel’s side finally found their groove, producing a performance that set “the bar” for what this group can achieve, as the manager himself put it.
“We had an excellent week from start to finish. We’ve just proved what I’ve seen every day in this camp and this makes me very happy,” Tuchel said after the match. “This camp was the benchmark.” He praised the team’s attitude, adding, “There was no negative attitude on the pitch, no frustration. For me, it was teamwork in its purest form. Then we played football to a high level and got a deserved win.”
The match itself was a showcase of England’s attacking depth and defensive solidity. Harry Kane opened the scoring with his 65th international goal in the 33rd minute, and Noni Madueke doubled the lead just two minutes later with a deft finish. The second half saw center backs Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi both notch their first international goals, while Marcus Rashford capped the rout with a penalty—his first England goal in more than two years.
England’s dominance was clear in the numbers: 24 shots, 12 on target, and 42 touches in Serbia’s box. Serbia, by contrast, failed to register a single shot on target, leaving goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with little to do. The hosts, ranked 32nd in the FIFA World Rankings, found themselves overwhelmed not just by England’s quality but by their relentless pressing and collective work rate.
“We knew tonight would be a really big test against better opposition and better players,” said captain Harry Kane, reflecting on the match. “We said we wanted to show what we can do especially without the ball with the high pressure and make it difficult for them.” Kane emphasized that the win should serve as a “template” for England’s approach going forward, noting, “You could say today was the perfect template and we’re going to have difficult games from now until the World Cup but we’ll use this as a starting point and the standard’s been really high.”
The atmosphere in Belgrade was as intense as expected. Despite warnings from the Serbian FA, home fans engaged in provocative chanting, and there were reports of laser pointers being aimed at England players, prompting a stadium announcement. Riot police intervened during a brief disturbance among Serbian supporters. Yet, England remained unfazed, displaying a maturity and composure that had been missing in earlier qualifiers.
Tuchel’s tactical tweaks were evident throughout. With key players Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Cole Palmer sidelined by injury, the manager turned to emerging talents like Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson. Both players seized their opportunities, with Anderson in particular shining in a deep midfield role, providing progressive passing and defensive cover. “These players proved a point every day in camp, and the team did it again with their performance,” Tuchel remarked. “It is now up to me to make some decisions on positions but this is international football.”
England’s bench strength was further highlighted by the absence of some established stars. Yet, the likes of Madueke and Rogers injected fresh energy and creativity, suggesting that the squad’s depth could be a key asset as the road to North America continues. “We had a bit of a stop-start game against Andorra and the result was maybe not the result that everyone expected from us,” Tuchel admitted. “I kept the belief but at some point you need to prove it also as a player, that it’s not just only words from your coach. They kept on doing and I think they kept on believing, and they felt themselves that this is the spirit that we need in camp and that will give us the extra level of quality.”
Despite the five-star showing, England are not yet assured of a place at the 2026 World Cup. With five qualifiers played, Tuchel’s side has scored 13 goals and conceded none, sitting seven points clear of Albania in Group K. Serbia trails a further point behind, though they have played one fewer match. England needs two more wins from their remaining three fixtures to guarantee qualification. The earliest moment they can secure their spot is during the October international break, when they face Latvia in Riga on October 14. Should Serbia stumble against Albania three days earlier, and England win in Latvia, qualification will be sealed. Alternatively, even if Serbia wins but then drops points away at Andorra, England’s victory in Riga would still be enough.
The path ahead remains challenging. England will play a friendly against Wales before traveling to Latvia, followed by crucial qualifiers against Serbia and Albania in November. Tuchel’s men are firmly in control of their destiny, with the manager stressing the importance of maintaining focus and standards. “This is the time when the competition starts, the formation and the way we play and the style is going to be set in stone,” Kane explained. “Of course, there might be a few games where we have to change a little bit depending on opposition, but we want to play our way—we want to be on the front foot and win the ball back quick and when we lose the ball, recover well.”
England’s performance in Belgrade has, at last, silenced some of the external noise and raised expectations for what this team can achieve under Tuchel. With a new generation of players stepping up and a clear sense of identity emerging, the Three Lions look poised to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup—and perhaps, finally, end their long wait for a major international trophy. But for now, the job isn’t finished. England’s fans will be watching closely as the decisive fixtures approach, hoping that the spirit and quality shown in Serbia will carry them all the way to North America.
