England manager Thomas Tuchel has suggested he might keep substitutes in the dressing room during matches at next summer’s 2026 World Cup to help players cope with extreme temperatures.

“If this helps the players later in the match, we have to consider it,” Tuchel told BBC Sport on Thursday.

He acknowledged that the approach is not ideal. “Nobody likes it because I want the players to be out there, feeling the energy and bringing it from the bench onto the pitch. But I saw players doing this at the Club World Cup. Hopefully, we can avoid it,” he added.

Heat was a major concern at last year’s Club World Cup in the U.S., where medical experts and players’ unions warned of heat stress, dehydration, and slower recovery times.

Tuchel admitted that extreme temperatures pose a challenge for high-level football, as they naturally reduce the intensity of matches. “You can’t play the same football in 45°C as in 21°C. We need to adapt and prepare the players as well as possible,” he said.

Despite the potential obstacles, Tuchel expressed growing confidence in England’s chances at the tournament.

“I’m more confident than ever that this team can win the tournament, as we’ve grown closer and stronger. We are arriving with the biggest goal,” he said.

England dominated their World Cup qualifiers, winning all eight matches, scoring 22 goals, and conceding none. The team is in pot one for Friday’s draw, meaning they will avoid facing France, Spain, or Argentina before the semi-finals, assuming all four top seeds win their groups.

“We need to wait until the draw, but we have a clear idea against whom we want to play. We’re getting closer. I think we’re getting stronger. The target is to arrive in June with a strong squad, with emphasis on the squad and team spirit,” Tuchel concluded.