Thomas Tuchel’s two-year contract extension as England head coach is not unconditional – it contains a performance clause, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has disclosed. Speaking at England’s World Cup media centre in Kansas City, Bullingham confirmed that the German’s new deal, agreed earlier this year and taking him to the end of Euro 2028, is subject to the same kind of triggers as every other FA contract. “There’s performance clauses in every single contract at the FA, but I’m not going into any detail of what they are,” he said.
The revelation comes just days before England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday. Tuchel was appointed in 2024 with the explicit remit to win England’s second World Cup. His original deal had been due to expire at the end of this tournament, but the FA moved to extend it early, a decision that has drawn criticism from those who argue the results should have come first.
“FA chief Bullingham confirms Tuchel's contract extension includes performance clause; deal runs to Euro 2028.”
Bullingham defended the timing forcefully. “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,” he said. “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.”
The FA chief also made clear that avoiding a cloud of uncertainty over the squad during the World Cup was a key motivation. “You never really want that hanging over you when you get into a tournament,” he said. Bullingham pointed out that anyone on a fixed-term contract would naturally consider their future as it neared its end. “It was more about looking to 2028,” he added. “It’s a very important home tournament…”
When asked directly whether there was a break clause that Tuchel could activate, Bullingham was blunt: “We can hold him to the contract.” That line will reassure those who worried the FA might lose control, but it also leaves open the question of what happens if England’s World Cup performance falls short of the ultimate goal.