Tuchel's England deal includes performance clause, FA chief reveals

England head coach Thomas Tuchel's two-year contract extension is subject to a performance clause, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has revealed. With his original deal due to expire at the end of the World Cup, the FA and Tuchel agreed a new two-year contract earlier this year that takes the German to the end of Euro 2028.

Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel was given the remit to win the World Cup when he was appointed by England in 2024. Bullingham was asked whether the FA is protected should England's performance at this World Cup mean it does not want Tuchel to lead the team at Euro 2028.

"There's performance clauses in every single contract at the FA, but I'm not going into any detail of what they are," said Bullingham. Asked whether there was a break clause in the deal that Tuchel can activate, Bullingham said: "We can hold him to the contract."

Early extension defended

Speaking at England's World Cup media centre in Kansas City, Bullingham delivered a strong defence of the governing body's decision to extend Tuchel's contract before the tournament. The FA has faced criticism for rewarding Tuchel with fresh terms without knowing the final outcome of his initial mission, given the 52-year-old's target upon his appointment was to win England's second World Cup.

But Bullingham said: "The reality is he's a top-level manager who would be in demand and we knew we had someone who was doing a really good job and we can't just expect someone to wait around and just leave it and see how you go.

"That's not the reality of life in any profession. We have someone doing a really good job, we thought we could sign him up for two more years - it's a home tournament (Euro 2028) where the pressure is even bigger and we have a manager who has been there and done it."

Bullingham also made clear that the FA was keen to avoid the scenario of uncertainty over its manager's future overshadowing the World Cup. He said: "You never really want that hanging over you when you get into a tournament."

Bullingham pointed out that anyone on a fixed-term contract would need to consider their future as such a deal neared its end. "It was more about looking to 2028," he added. "It's a very important home tournament for us and we wanted the best chance to do the best we can and we felt we had a very good manager, so why not extend?

"They are two different projects. So the 2028 project, we want the best manager in place - we have signed him up. We are still looking at this World Cup to give ourselves the best possible chance and we said at the time we felt he gave us the best possible chance. We still feel that.

"If you look back at any tournament and you work back from it, you look at who is the best manager you want, when can he be available, when can you sign him up. I would argue it's a bigger risk the other way."

World Cup campaign begins

Tuchel's England launch their World Cup campaign on Wednesday when they face Croatia in Arlington, Texas (21:00 BST).

Drinks breaks not expected to become permanent

Meanwhile, Bullingham believes the drinks breaks that are a feature of the matches in the United States will not become the norm. Because of the hot and humid conditions that teams are playing in during the World Cup, world football's governing body Fifa has permitted hydration breaks in each half. During the breaks in play, the coaches are allowed to brief their players.

"Our view is that one of the biggest factors, particularly for European teams, is the heat," said Bullingham. "It's challenging, so having a guaranteed drinks break is very important. I think they will be critical for every European team. From a player welfare point of view they are really important."