The Matchday 8 World Cup 2026 qualifying clash between Latvia and England will take place on October 14 at the Daugava Stadium in Riga. Latvia vs. England: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Latvia
The Baltic team has lost all chances of even reaching the second spot in Group K. After 6 rounds, they have only one victory, achieved away against Andorra (1-0). Interestingly, in their last match, the Latvians hosted Andorra and not only drew with the underdog but also allowed them to score two goals (2-2). As a result, the team is in 4th place, from which they are unlikely to move, and they are on a 5-match winless streak in World Cup qualification (2 draws and 3 losses).
- In their last 12 World Cup qualifying matches, Latvia has secured only 2 victories (4 draws and 6 losses).
- No more than three goals have been scored in 10 of Latvia's last 12 games in this tournament.
- Latvia has been unable to secure a home win in World Cup qualification for 6 matches – 2 draws and 4 losses.
Predicted lineup for Latvia (5-3-2)
Krišjānis Zviedris – Alvis Jaunzems, Daniils Balodis, Vitalijs Jagodinskis, Andrejs Ciganiks, Raivis Jurkovskis – Renārs Varslavāns, Aleksejs Saveljevs, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs – Jānis Ikaunieks, Vladislavs Gutkovskis.
England
If Thomas Tuchel's side wins this match, they will secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup ahead of schedule. Currently, the team is confidently leading their group, having collected the maximum points from 5 matches. It's worth noting that England has not conceded a goal in the current qualifying cycle. Last week, the team took a break from group matches but played a friendly against Wales, easily defeating them 3-0.
- England's winning streak in World Cup qualification stands at 7 matches.
- The team has not conceded in their last 7 games in this tournament.
- In their last 9 away World Cup qualifying matches, England has secured 8 clean-sheet victories and drawn once.
Predicted lineup for England (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford – Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly – Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice – Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka – Harry Kane.
Midfielders Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, along with defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James, will miss the match due to injuries.
Referee
Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece)
Matches – 11 (International matches, 2024–2025);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 51;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;
Red cards shown – 6;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 36%.
Latvia vs. England: Match Prediction
England only needs a win in this match, even a narrow one, to secure a direct ticket to the World Cup. I believe this will be the case, as under Thomas Tuchel, England has focused on excellent defensive play in this qualifying round and does not aim to thrash their opponents. Moreover, with domestic league matches coming up this weekend, it's important for players to return to their clubs injury-free and in good physical shape.
Latvia struggles to play offensively, as seen in their matches against Andorra. However, they are better at defending throughout the match, as the team is quite weak and relies more on their defense. In their last 15 home World Cup qualifying matches, Latvia has never lost by more than 3 goals. Additionally, England has not won by such a large margin in 9 of their last 14 away World Cup qualifying matches.
My prediction – "Latvia with a handicap (+3)"
