Thomas Tuchel warned to 'embrace the chaos' as England boss or face boot ahead of 2026 World Cup

Tuchel has been warned that failure to adapt to the unpredictable demands of the 2026 World Cup could cost him the England job. Despite his reputation for meticulous planning and tactical control, the Three Lions boss has been told that mental flexibility, not marginal gains, will determine success at the World Cup.

With less than a year to go before England’s World Cup opener, Tuchel and his staff are going to extreme lengths to prepare for the brutal conditions in the United States. However, John Herdman — an English coach with over a decade of experience coaching in North America — has issued a blunt warning: if Tuchel tries to control everything without preparing for the chaos, England will go home early. And with expectations sky-high, that would likely see him booted from the role before the 2026 tournament even ends.

Speaking to Mail Sport, Herdman said: “What I have learnt over here is that you have to develop an anti-fragile mindset.

“Yes, the teams that will be successful will prepare, they'll find the marginal gains. You have to create as many placebos as possible. But more than anything, you have to embrace the chaos that will enter your world.

"You're crossing time zones, climates, altitudes and cultures every few days. You'll go from dry heat to extreme humidity. It's not possible to adapt to those climates in such a short space of time. You have to concentrate as much on the mental side of things, make the players believe you are doing something to get a one per cent gain. But after all of that, you still have to say, 's*it is going to happen’.”

Tuchel may be renowned for his obsession with tactical control and marginal gains, but Herdman believes his success with England next summer will hinge on flexibility, adaptability, and mental strength. The former Canada coach believes that embracing the madness may prove just as important as masterminding the perfect game plan.