England confirm March friendlies with Uruguay and Japan as Marcelo Bielsa returns to UK | OneFootball

Marcelo Bielsa will return to the UK in March, with his Uruguay side facing England at Wembley. England said in a statement that Uruguay visit on Friday 27 March and Japan follow on Tuesday 31 March, both 7.45pm starts, the final games before Thomas Tuchel names his World Cup squad in May.

Both visitors have qualified for next summer’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, and are ranked 16th and 18th in the world. The fixtures will interest Leeds supporters, with Bielsa in the opposite dugout and recent two-goal midfield hero Ao Tanaka a Japan international.

England will meet Croatia, Ghana and Panama at the finals, with games in Dallas, Boston and New York/New Jersey. They are also expected to play two additional warm-ups in the USA before the tournament, with details to be confirmed.

Uruguay have been drawn alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Bielsa is set for a third World Cup on a third continent.

Japan will face the Netherlands, Tunisia and a European play-off winner. Tanaka featured in Qatar in 2022 and is expected to make the squad again.

Two other former Leeds managers are due at the tournament, with Thomas Christiansen in charge of Panama and Jesse Marsch leading co-hosts Canada.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk