2026 World Cup: Donald Trump Turns Out to Be a Coach, Too, and Thomas Tuchel Loses His Patience
On the eve of the 2026 World Cup finals (France vs. England on Saturday for third place, Spain vs. Argentina on Sunday for the world title) is being enlivened by Donald Trump’s unexpected “tactical analysis,” in which he openly criticized the tactical decisions made by England and its head coach Thomas Tuchel, singling out the on-field responsibilities assigned to Harry Kane in the final minutes of the match in Atlanta. This comment has further heated up the debate surrounding the German coach, ultimately irritating him directly.
During a FIFA event held at Trump Tower in New York, the U.S. president recounted playing golf with Kane a year and a half ago, calling him “a great guy,” before delivering the blow: “England made a mistake by putting its best player on defense. What do I know about soccer? I’m no expert, but I’m sure that to win, he needs to play up front.”
Tuchel, asked to respond at a press conference, didn’t hide his annoyance. “Are you using him as a witness, Donald Trump?” he said, irritated. “Kane didn’t play in defense,” the German coach explained. “He simply helped out on defense when we couldn’t break out of the opponents’ pressure. When you defend with a low block, you do it with all your players. That’s called team spirit. We were passive in the closing minutes, but we all were.”
The coach then acknowledged his players’ inability to find passing lanes once they regained possession: “That’s the next step; I’m confident this team can take it ahead of Euro 2028.” In the meantime, however, the loss in the semifinal continues to weigh heavily—not only because of the comeback suffered in the final minutes, but also because of the flood of opinions, criticism, and analysis that have been directed at the team’s management of the match.
In a World Cup already marked by controversy, tensions, and off-field debates, Trump’s intrusion into the soccer debate adds a new chapter that is surreal in its own way. And as England prepares for the third-place match against France, Tuchel must also contend with an increasingly loud chorus of voices.
