England head into Monday’s clash as heavy favourites, with the bookmakers expecting the hosts to sweep aside their Baltic opponents on home soil. The two teams preside over starkly contrasting World Cup qualifying records and are predicted to conclude the current campaign at opposite ends of Group K.
The Three Lions last experienced defeat in a World Cup qualifier way back in October 2009, losing narrowly to Ukraine after already having secured safe passage to South Africa. Italian tactician Fabio Capello took ultimate responsibility for that disappointing night in Dnipro over 15 years ago, England’s last permanent foreign manager ahead of the appointment of Thomas Tuchel.
Conversely, Latvia have won just twice in each of their last three World Cup qualifying campaigns. Four days after England’s aforementioned loss to Ukraine, Latvia overcame Moldova to clinch third spot in Group 2, finishing three points behind runners-up Greece. The 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign remains the Latvians’ strongest since gaining independence from the Soviet Union.
The match will be shown live on ITV and STV in the UK, with various international broadcasters also providing coverage. Viewers can also watch the action unfold on ITVX and STV player, ITV’s online streaming platforms.
England v Latvia – Key Information
Date: Monday 24th March
Kick-off time: 7.45pm (GMT)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: O. Grinfeld (ISR)
VAR: Ziv Adler (ISR)
TV Channels: ITV, STV, ITVX, and STV Player
Odds: ENG (1/33) - X (16/1) - LAT (40/1)
England v Latvia – Team News
Both teams make adjustments to recent previous squads, as each manager assesses the form and fitness of available players. Thanks to a considerable injury list and Thomas Tuchel's fresh impetus, there are several new – and indeed returning – faces in the England camp. Having been appointed to his current post just over 12 months ago, Latvia boss Paolo Nicolato reaps the benefit of managing a far more settled team.
England team news
Faced with a multitude of selection headaches, it was inevitable that the configuration of Tuchel’s maiden squad would divide opinion. While there is a place for a handful of newcomers, several more experienced players have been deemed surplus to requirements.
Last weekend’s Carabao Cup final hero Dan Burn is drafted into the squad, while Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly also earns a first call-up. The teenage full-back has delivered a series of dazzling displays over the past few months, and has started three of the Gunners’ last four UEFA Champions League contests.
Having initially not been named in Tuchel’s provisional 26-player squad, Morgan Gibbs-White arrives at St. George’s Park to replace the injury-stricken Cole Palmer. Having racked up an impressive five goals and seven assists throughout the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, the attacking midfielder has helped propel Nottingham Forest to the cusp of European qualification. Two months after making his international debut in Dublin, the 25-year-old talent set up England’s third goal in a comprehensive away victory over Greece.
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah are also involved, but neither of the two youngsters is likely to earn a first international cap.
Marcus Rashford is recalled following a positive start to life in the West Midlands, having made his last appearance as a late substitute in England’s friendly defeat to Brazil last March. Although yet to score for Aston Villa, the versatile attacker has recorded several assists. Thanks to a string of positive performances in the Netherlands, Ajax captain Jordan Henderson also returns to the international fold. The former Liverpool midfielder last wore an England jersey in November 2023, helping Gareth Southgate’s men register a 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley.
Chelsea skipper Reece James seems to have eventually overcome a persistent hamstring injury and is slowly returning to his best. The marauding full-back has a strong relationship with Thomas Tuchel following the German’s successful stint at Stamford Bridge, winning the UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup throughout his period in charge.
Conor Gallagher and Adam Wharton are the two headline casualties, as the defensive midfield duo fall behind Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the pecking order. Having made a significant impact at Atlético Madrid following his arrival in the Spanish capital last summer, Gallagher is somewhat of a surprise omission. A serious groin injury has undermined Adam Wharton’s progress in recent months, but the Crystal Palace star would still have been optimistic about his chances of making the cut. Both Gallagher and Wharton have represented the Three Lions within the last ten months.
England predicted line-up v Latvia (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Jordan Pickford (GK); Reece James; Marc Guéhi; Levi Colwill; Myles Lewis-Skelly; Declan Rice; Jude Bellingham; Jarrod Bowen; Phil Foden; Marcus Rashford; Harry Kane
Latvia team news
Paolo Nicolato has been able to select an experienced and highly cohesive group of players, with most squad members plying their trade in Latvia’s top-flight.
Strike partners Jānis Ikaunieks and Vladislavs Gutkovskis will likely lead the line for the visitors at Wembley, having amassed more than a century of international caps between them. RFS marksman Ikaunieks recorded six goals in just four UEFA Europa League qualifying outings at the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign, while compatriot Gutkovskis continues to regularly find the net for South Korean outfit Daejeon Hana Citizen.
After playing every minute of St. Johnstone’s seven domestic fixtures following his mid-season switch from RFS, Daniels Balodis will be expecting to be included in Latvia’s starting XI on Monday evening.
Goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris and central defender Oskars Vientiess are hoping to make their international debuts, while promising youngsters Lūkass Vapne and Dario Šits are likely to feature once again.
Latvia predicted line-up v England (5-3-2)
Coach: Paolo Nicolato
Rihards Matrevics (GK); Roberts Savaļnieks; Daniels Balodis; Antonijs Černomordijs; Raivis Jurkovskis; Dmitrijs Zelenkovs; Aleksejs Saveljevs; Andrejs Cigaņiks; Jānis Ikaunieks; Vladislavs Gutkovskis
Where to watch on TV
ITV hold exclusive UK broadcasting rights for all of England’s 2026 World Cup and subsequent UEFA Euro 2028 qualifiers, so coverage of Monday night’s meeting with Latvia will only be provided by one channel. Online viewers can stream the match via ITVX or STV player, or catch up with events after the final whistle.
Audiences in various other countries will also be able to tune into the action, with a host of international media outlets also beaming live footage from Wembley. Please find a comprehensive list of channels licensed to broadcast the match here.
Form Guide and Head-to-Head record
England have responded well to last year’s crushing Euro 2024 final defeat in Berlin, re-gaining their tier A status after securing 15 points from six UEFA Nations League contests. Despite suffering a sobering 2-1 loss at Wembley to Greece midway through the campaign, the Three Lions emerged as group winners following strong performances in Dublin, Helsinki, and Athens.
Having only recorded two victories since assuming the managerial hot seat back in February 2024, Latvia boss Paolo Nicolato is already under considerable pressure. Both of these wins came against the Faroe Islands, edging past the Scandinavian minnows in Baltic Cup and UEFA Nations League encounters. The Latvians lost three of their previous four matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, succumbing to North Macedonia twice before being turned over by Armenia in Riga.
Remarkably, Monday’s contest is the first meeting of these two nations. England and Latvia have been drawn into different groups in all 16 World Cup and European Championship qualification campaigns since 1992, following the Baltic state’s separation from the USSR.