Kane Cleared to Start as England Eye World Cup Qualification in Latvia

England captain Harry Kane has been passed fit and is ready to lead his country in Tuesday’s pivotal World Cup qualifier against Latvia, manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Monday. With a victory in Riga, England can secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America with two games to spare.

Kane was absent from England’s recent 3-0 win over Wales after picking up an ankle injury while playing for Bayern Munich, but he returned to training over the weekend and has been declared fully fit. “It’s very easy with Harry, he can play, he is fit,” said Tuchel. “The pause was just a short one for him. He played all matches for Bayern before, so I don’t see any obstacles. He’s top in training and ready to go. I don’t see why he should not be able to play 90 minutes.”

His return comes at a vital moment after Ollie Watkins, who replaced Kane in the Wales match and found the net before suffering an injury, had to withdraw from the squad. Watkins, injured in a collision with the post against Wales, has returned to Aston Villa for treatment, leaving Kane as the only recognised centre-forward in the squad.

England’s campaign under Tuchel has been strong, with five wins from five matches in Group K—without conceding a goal. If they beat Latvia, their lead will be unassailable, after Serbia’s defeat to Albania opened the door for England to book their ticket to the World Cup early.

Tuchel was full of praise for his squad’s spirit and focus: “The players are fully focused, they train with joy and a lot of quality,” he said. “The spirit and momentum is clearly there, and everyone has made an impact. We have to show respect to our opponent and the circumstances—it’s an away match in a World Cup qualifier, and the motivation is there to seal qualification with a win.”

Kane, England’s record scorer with 74 international goals, will aim to lead the line with his usual influence and fire the Three Lions to another successful tournament berth. The match in Riga kicks off with England on the brink of World Cup qualification and their captain primed for a full return.

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