England manager Thomas Tuchel says he may keep his substitute players in the dressing room during next summer’s World Cup matches due to the dangers posed by high temperatures.
Speaking on the eve of the World Cup draw in Washington DC, Tuchel told BBC sports editor Dan Roan: “If it helps us in the games later on, we have to consider a possibility.
“Nobody likes that because I want the players to feel the energy and give us energy from the bench to the field.
“But I saw players doing that at the Club World Cup. Hopefully we can avoid that. It’s always better when they are out there with us.”
With the tournament taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico in June and July 2026, experts have warned that high temperatures, wildfires and even hurricanes could affect teams, fans and stadium workers.
The recent Pitches in Peril report, compiled by pressure groups Football for the Future and Common Goal, found that 10 of the 16 World Cup venues “are at very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions.”
There were complaints from players and managers about the schedule of the Club World Cup last June and July because the matches were played in extreme heat.
“It’s an issue for high-level football – it will reduce the intensity of the matches,” Tuchel said of the impact of the heat.
“This will reduce the amount of intense runs offensively and defensively. The matches and planning will naturally adapt. You can’t play the same football in 45C compared to 21C.
“We need the players to adapt and prepare as well as possible. We need to adapt to the heat, the cooling systems, and we are on it. We have put a lot of effort into it, and we will be ready when the tournament starts.”