Tuchel regrets not eating grass after England beat Mexico during World Cup

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he regrets not eating some of the grass at Mexico’s famous Azteca Stadium after their World Cup victory over Mexico.

England defeated Mexico 3-2 in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, with Tuchel describing the match as one of the memorable moments of the team’s campaign.

Speaking to former England striker Daniel Sturridge in the English Football Association’s documentary, Reflections: England’s World Cup Journey, Tuchel said he wished he had taken something from the pitch to preserve the memory of the occasion, The Athletic reports on Tuesday.

“I texted a friend after the match. And I just wrote: I regret that I didn’t eat some grass after the match, to keep something from this in my body forever. That was the feeling. It was the moment,” Tuchel said.

Tuchel also recalled how England’s players rallied around Jordan Henderson during the celebrations after the midfielder fell and suffered a wrist fracture that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.

“This had so much of what you could wish for.

“If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players, and how they were with each other, it was the moment when Jordan fell over and broke his arm. In a second the players were there, every single player was there, stopping celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special,” he said.

Tuchel said England’s World Cup campaign, which ended with a defeat to Argentina in the semi-final, had given the team a foundation to build on ahead of the 2028 European Championship.

The German added that England would focus on their upcoming Nations League matches as preparations continue for the Euros.

Tuchel said, “I’m very excited to work with these players. I’m excited to have new young players we can bring into the camp, and they can learn.

“I think we got another step closer. I think we’re there. It’s very difficult to prepare a World Cup in the US, but I think it’s possible to prepare for a Euros. And we prepare in Nations League tier one.

“The target is to have another 10 matches. We had 10 matches in the US (including two pre-World Cup friendlies): eight wins, one draw, one painful loss. But that is something to build on.

“We all have the right to hold our heads high, and go with courage and positivity into the next challenges. We have four matches in the Nations League (in the upcoming three-week international window). That’s where the focus is.”

England will next face world champions Spain at Wembley in the Nations League on September 26.