FA makes decision on Thomas Tuchel’s future as performance clause revealed
After England lost the World Cup semi-final against Argentina last night (15 July), it’s fair to say we went out fighting.
And I don’t necessarily just mean literally. While the Three Lions put an absolute shift in to try and get us to the final, there has of course been criticism about what stopped us.
A lot of this has fallen on the shoulders of Thomas Tuchel as he defends his controversial choice of substitutions.
But still, football's usual blame game and calls for ‘sack the manager’ are loud. However, the England coach has made it clear he intends to stick with the team in the next Euros.
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And following his time at the World Cup, the Footballing Association (FA) has made a decision on his future, with no plans to sack the German.
Tuchel was appointed to be England’s head coach back in January 2025 on an 18-month mission to win us the World Cup. Then in February this year, he signed a two-year contract extension.
And while some fans are calling for him to be out following last night’s defeat, it’s understood he’s staying on.
Sources have told the likes of ESPN that Tuchel retains the backing of the FA.
Contracted through to 2028, it’s said that the FA want the German manager to continue despite the close miss on the World Cup final.
"It is heartbreaking to be so close," FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in a statement.
"The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament. I would like to thank them all and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further."
Having previously spoken about his stance on Tuchel's position, Bullingham said at the Kansas City base: "There's performance clauses in every single contract at the FA, but I'm not going into any detail of what they are.”
And as to whether there is a break clause which Tuchel can activate, he said: "We can hold him to the contract." At the moment though, it seems this clause won't be exercised.
Meanwhile, Tuchel has also made it clear that he intends to stick with the team and take us into the next Euros.
"We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros," the Three Lions coach said to media after the match.
"I'm looking forward to that even though right now it's difficult to look that far ahead.
"A lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement.
"No-one wants to hear that at the moment; me neither because we demand the most of ourselves. That's just the nature of being competitive."
But for now, England’s next match comes on Saturday as we face France in the third-place play-off final in Miami.
"First of all, the World Cup is not over," Tuchel added.
"There is still a match to play that we are not looking forward so much to, but there is still a match to play.
"Then we keep on going. I have a contract until the home Euros and I'm looking forward to that even like now, it is difficult to look that far ahead."
The bronze final kicks off at 10pm BST on Saturday and will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Jess Battison