England have the chance to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup as they take on Latvia on Tuesday evening. The Three Lions travel to Riga, knowing a victory will confirm their place at the tournament in North America next summer. The game kicks off at 7:45pm, and below you can find our match preview along with our best bets.
Best bets and predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| England to win & Under 3.5 goals | 5/4 @ BetMGM (44.4%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Only two of Latvia’s last 17 fixtures have produced more than 3.5 goals, and it’s tough to see them troubling the scoreboard against England. Latvia have lost each of their last 14 matches versus teams ranked inside FIFA’s top 10, including England, who are currently fourth, by a combined score of 41-1, which says plenty about the gulf in class. This isn’t likely to turn into a goal-fest, but Thomas Tuche’s side should have more than enough to handle a deep-lying Latvian defence with a composed, businesslike display.. |
| Declan Rice to Score | 7/2 @ BetMGM (22.2%) | ⭐⭐ | While most of England’s forwards are heavily favoured in the anytime scorer market, Declan Rice at 7/2 offers more appealing value. The midfielder has netted three times in his last 11 appearances for the national team and is likely to be given freedom to push forward, creating opportunities to strike from distance. |
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How both teams go into Latvia vs England
Latvia are having a tough time in World Cup qualifying, sitting just above the Faroe Islands in the FIFA rankings. Beyond a narrow opening win over Andorra, they’ve lost three and drawn two of their other five group games, including a 2-2 stalemate with Andorra at the weekend that handed the visitors their only point so far.
By contrast, England have made a perfect start, collecting 15 points from five matches. Even without Harry Kane, they dismantled Wales 3-0 in the first 20 minutes at Wembley, with Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Bukayo Saka all on the scoresheet. Thomas Tuchel has stuck with the squad that beat Serbia and Andorra, prioritising harmony and form over big names, and the result has been a professional, well-oiled Three Lions side ready to handle a lowly-ranked opponent like Latvia.
Latvia team news
Latvia manager Nicolato will have a largely unchanged squad from the draw with Andorra. However, they will be without key attacker Roberts Uldrikis and Aberdeen midfielder Kristers Tobers due to injury.
England team news
With World Cup qualification within reach, England’s manager is unlikely to make significant changes. However, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, although the latter possibly replacing Anthony Gordon, could inject fresh energy into the Three Lions’ attack in Riga.
Head-to-head
This will be just the second time Latvia and England have faced each other, following England’s 3-0 victory in March. The match also marks another milestone for the Three Lions, as Latvia becomes the 72nd nation they’ve played away from home.
Conclusion
This tie feels more like a formality for England than a true test. With qualification for next summer’s World Cup practically sealed by other results, the emphasis will be on seeing the job done efficiently, keeping things controlled rather than chasing excitement. Backing the visitors to win and under four goals in the match looks a solid proposition at 5/4.