Thomas Tuchel to Discuss Ben White's Return; Emphasizes Serious Approach to World Cup Qualification
Incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel plans to engage with Arsenal defender Ben White about rejoining the national team and stresses the importance of a committed approach to the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Thomas Tuchel, set to begin his tenure as England's head coach in January, intends to reach out to Ben White regarding his potential return to international duty. White, a key defender for Arsenal, departed the England squad during the group stage of the 2022 World Cup due to personal reasons. Reports at the time suggested a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland. In March 2024, then-manager Gareth Southgate confirmed that White had made himself unavailable for national selection.
The 27-year-old defender, capable of playing both center-back and right-back, has earned four caps for England, with his last appearance in March 2022. Under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, White has been instrumental in the team's defense. Recently, he underwent knee surgery and is currently sidelined. Tuchel expressed his intention to contact White, stating, "I will reach out to him. This could mark a new beginning and a fresh chapter."
As the third foreign manager in England's history, following Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, Tuchel also addressed the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. England has been drawn into Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. Tuchel emphasized the need for a serious approach, noting, "We must not assume qualification is assured. It's imperative to approach these matches with seriousness and demonstrate our capabilities. The gap between top-tier and smaller teams has narrowed significantly. We must earn our superior position."
The qualifying matches commence in March, with the top teams from 12 groups securing spots in the World Cup. The second-placed teams will enter playoffs to complete Europe's 16 allocated spots.