Thomas Tuchel is the coach of England’s new 2026 World Cup squad.

LONDON —

Thomas Tuchel was appointed England coach on Wednesday, tasked with ending the national team’s years-long wait for a trophy.

The German, who previously coached Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern, signed an 18-month contract that starts in January and runs until the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.

“This is a very exciting day for English football. “We have appointed one of the best coaches in the world,” English Football Association president Mark Bullingham said at Tuchel’s presentation at Wembley Stadium. “Our goal is always to win a major tournament and we believe Thomas gives us the best opportunity to do that at the next men’s world championship.”

By then it will be 60 years since England won their only major trophy: the 1966 World Cup.

Fourteen different managers have failed to break the streak without a major title, with Gareth Southgate coming closest, guiding the national team to successive European Championship finals before resigning in July.

Champions League winner Tuchel has won titles across Europe and has announced his intention to repeat that success with England.

“I realized very quickly that it was a big job,” he said, adding that he wanted to take England beyond the pale and try to put a second star on the shirt.

Tuchel, 51, will become the third foreign coach to take charge of an English team after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

After receiving well wishes from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right-wing Reform Party leader Nigel Farage asked on X: “Why can’t we have an English coach?”

Tuchel laughed when asked if he had a message for England fans disappointed with their foreign coach.

“Sorry, I have a German passport,” he said. “I hope I can convince them, show them and prove to them that I am proud to be England manager and will do everything I can to show respect for the role and for this country.”

As Chelsea manager, he beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the Champions League just months after taking over. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup with the Premier League club.

He won league titles with PSG in France and Bayern in Germany. He will take up the job in England after leaving Bayern at the end of last season.

Tuchel will be accompanied by his former Chelsea assistant Anthony Barry, who recently worked with Portugal at the Euros.

“Essentially, we wanted to hire a coaching team that would give us the best opportunity to win a major tournament, and we believe they will do that,” Bullingham said. “Thomas and his team are committed to giving us the best possible chance of winning the World Cup in 2026.”

Tuchel will take up his duties after the draw for the World Cup qualifying groups in December.

Under-21 coach Lee Carsley will remain in charge of England as caretaker coach for the Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland next month.