England will step up their preparations for the World Cup with March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
The South American side will visit Wembley on March 27, with the clash against Japan coming four days later.
The double-header will be the last time Thomas Tuchel’s side play on home soil before they bid for glory at next summer’s World Cup in North America.
The games have been in the books for some time, but the Football Association waited until after last week’s World Cup draw before confirming them.
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They will provide a good test for Tuchel’s side, with the opposition a step up in quality after England breezed through qualification with a 100 per cent record.
Uruguay are ranked 16th and Japan 18th and both countries are also going to the World Cup.
The games will be the last chance for players to impress Tuchel before he confirms his squad for the finals in May.
England are then expected to play two friendlies in the United States before heading into camp.
England will step up their preparations for the World Cup with March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan
|PA
Tuchel said: “We are really pleased to have these two fixtures confirmed as our World Cup year takes shape.
“We wanted to play two teams ranked in the top 20 in the world, but also to test ourselves against opponents from outside of Europe.
“After Friday’s draw, the excitement for next year is really building and we can’t wait to see our fans again at Wembley.”
England will play Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L at the World Cup.
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England will play Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L at the World Cup
|PA
Their first game will be against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, with the next group match seeing them face Ghana in Boston on June 23.
The opening stages will conclude in New Jersey, where the Three Lions will face Panama on June 27.
Qualified nations were drawn into their groups during a bizarre ceremony last Friday, which included President Donald Trump being the first recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize.
The 2026 World Cup introduces a new 48-team format, expanding from the traditional 32-team structure used since 1998.
Qualified nations were drawn into their groups during a bizarre ceremony last Friday
|PA
Ahead of the draw, former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate identified Japan as one of three nations he believes would pose particular challenges for England.
When asked which teams the Three Lions should hope to avoid ahead of last week's draw, the former national team manager singled out Japan, Colombia, and home nations rivals Scotland as his "tricky" selections.
Explaining his choices, Southgate described Japan as opponents who would present a genuinely difficult fixture for England.
The latest friendly announced will take place months before the team travels across the Atlantic, giving Tuchel a chance to pick which players he wants to take on the journey.
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