The England vs Wales clash should be a highly entertaining battle between the two old rivals in a FIFA international friendly clash at Wembley Stadium, London, on Thursday, October 9, as the Three Lions look to keep their momentum level going under the Thomas Tuchel Era.
England have looked pretty efficient in their period under Thomas Tuchel and have also been able to win all five of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches so far. They are aiming to get a big win at Wembley to build momentum before resuming their World Cup qualification journey.
Wales have maintained a pretty solid record in the year of 2025, but have started slipping in recent games, with two losses in their last five games. They are now aiming to get back to winning ways with a big win over their rivals, England, to gain some confidence before a few tricky World Cup qualifiers ahead.
Match Details
Wembley Stadium
London, England
9 October
Kick-Off Time: 19:45 PM BST
England and Wales Set for Bitter Battle in Fight for Bragging Rights
The England vs Wales clash doesn’t really have that many major stakes hanging on it because it’s basically a friendly match!
This isn’t a match in a major tournament with any trophy-winning incentive added to it, but that doesn’t mean this will be a walk in the park for either of the two sets of players. The animosity that is shared between the two sets of fans means that the England vs Wales is going to be one for pride and one that neither team will want to lose!
England have won their last seven straight matches against Wales, who last defeated the Three Lions in a competitive match way back in 1984! That is why the pressure is on Thomas Tuchel to ensure that his side can keep their winning record intact against Wales.
For Wales, this will be a game that they’ll be playing with relatively less pressure on their shoulders, as it’s a friendly. However, they will be determined to put in a brave and efficient performance to hurt the Three Lions and earn the delight of embarrassing them at their own home turf.
That is why the England vs Wales match should be a thrilling battle with a lot of drama added to it!
Who Brings the Creative Boost for Injury-Struck England?
England are missing a number of notable players for their upcoming matches because of injury troubles. The likes of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have all been left out, while the in-form Jack Grealish has not been able to get a place either.
That has posed the question of exactly how the Three Lions will sustain themselves in the creative part of the game against Wales, mostly because they are lacking genuine attacking midfield options.
However, Thomas Tuchel is still blessed with a lot of quality in his side. Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze can pack a real punch in creating chances with his creative brilliance, as he proved with the wonder assist in their draw against Manchester City.
Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are both capable of creating from wide areas, and even Declan Rice can set up big chances with his amazing set-piece prowess. That means the in-form Harry Kane, who has 19 goals in the 2025/26 season, should get plenty of service as he looks to add more goals to his tally for England.
Can Brennan Johnson Silence the Wembley Crowd?
The Wales national team is also blessed with some quality players in their squad.
However, their biggest attacking threat in the current set-up is probably Tottenham Hotspur forward Brennan Johnson. The 24-year-old was a marvel for Spurs in the 2024/25 season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including the memorable winner in Tottenham’s win over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final.
Johnson has had a bit of a slow start to the 2025/26 campaign for Spurs with just three goals in 10 games, but he can look to get momentum on his side by tormenting the Three Lions.
Johnson will look to use his clever off-the-ball movement ability to get past his marker and be at his ruthless best in finishing off whatever chance comes at his disposal to inspire Wales to a famous win at Wembley.
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England vs Wales Injuries
England injuries: Cole Palmer, Reece James, Tino Livramento, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Noni Madueke
Wales injuries: Aaron Ramsey, Dan James
England vs Wales Predicted Lineups
Because of the intensity of the clash, both Thomas Tuchel and Craig Bellamy will be determined to field strong teams for the England vs Wales clash. Here are the England vs Wales predicted lineups.
England predicted XI: Dean Henderson (GK), Djed Spence, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane
Wales predicted XI: Karl Darlow (GK), Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies, Sorba Thomas, Neco Williams, Josh Sheehan, Ethan Ampadu, Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Every Second Media
Recording Date: 04.10.2025