Pep Guardiola was close to coaching the English national team: What happened?

Although England has left the World Cup, talk about it is still ongoing, including the choice of coach that was selected by the English Football Association.

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Back in 2024, the Football Association had set its sights on Pep Guardiola as the ideal candidate to lead England's national team. According to reports from The Athletic, discussions between the two parties had even progressed to the point of a verbal understanding. But in the end, the Catalan coach chose to stay put at Manchester City, and the FA turned instead to Thomas Tuchel to fill the vacancy.

Fast forward to the present, and the Three Lions are gearing up for a third-place playoff clash against France at the 2026 World Cup. That match is set to take place on Saturday, July 18, with a late-night kick-off scheduled for 23:00 CET.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the FA has already quietly settled the question of Tuchel's future beyond the tournament—though the details of that decision have yet to be made public.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.