Can England Win the 2026 World Cup in North America? | OneFootball

60 years. 60 years of hurt. 60 years of dreaming. The World Cup is back. 48 countries come together to compete for sport’s biggest prize. Thomas Tuchel takes an England side full of talent and expectation. The nation waits patiently in hope that their side can ‘bring it home.’ The question is: can they?

England go into this year’s World Cup as one of the favourites to win it. With two runner-ups and a fourth-place finish in three of the last four huge tournaments, this side has got closer than any other England side since they won the World Cup in 1966.

In a group against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, England are expected to go through as winners. However, in knockout football, you need match-winning players. When the best come up against the best, it can be moments that decide a match.

THE TEAM

Thomas Tuchel made some bold decisions going into this tournament, leaving the likes of Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Cole Palmer at home. Game changers. Leaving out in-form Morgan Gibbs-White was also an eyebrow raiser from the manager.

While the squad selection had a few surprising selections to say the least, the absentees only remind you how strong a squad England do have. They have quality all over the pitch as well as a strong core of players that have been together a few years.

Harry Kane is coming off the best season of his career with a record-breaking season in the Bundesliga. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke will be full of confidence after becoming Premier League champions. Other notable players include Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and talented youngsters in Kobbie Mainoo and Nico O’Reilly.

A good mix of experience and new, hungry players, and most importantly, a handful of winners. England have the players, but do they have the manager?

Tuchel v Rest of the World

Thomas Tuchel knows success as a manager. Guiding Bayern Munich and PSG to a league title can be seen as read, but along with other trophies at club level, the German led Chelsea to the Champions League in 2021; the biggest club trophy and a knockout tournament.

Experience. Tick. Past success. Tick. The question marks lie with the slow and passive tactics we have seen under Tuchel. This becomes a problem in the latter stages against sides with higher quality. When having less of the ball in the World Cup, England will need to play with more purpose. This is where we will find out what this team is about.

What about the opposition? The sheer quality other sides have. Yes, England have a brilliant squad with a few world-class players within it. However, teams such as France and Spain have top-quality players across the pitch and on the bench.

Let’s look at France – Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Desire Doue started their last friendly against Northern Ireland. That’s as good a front four as you can get, and it doesn’t stop there. On the bench, you have: Rayan Cherki, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Bradley Barcola, and Marcus Thuram. Need I say more?

OUTSIDE NOISe

An obstacle for England that no one talks about is the pressure. Despite not having won the competition for 60 years, England expects. Fans. Media. Critics. All eyes are on the screens and they wait. Every goal is celebrated. Every mistake is highlighted.

This is what it is all about for these players. Playing at the highest level, but that comes with the most pressure. From penalty shootout misery to goalkeeping errors, England have had them all. England have ultimately crumbled when it mattered.

In recent tournaments, however, they have reached respectable stages with two second-place finishes in the Euros. Disappointing ends, but signs of progress. Gareth Southgate did steer them in the right direction; now they need someone to finish the race.

What Southgate did best was bring togetherness. We saw this on and off the pitch. England have thrived with this attitude. Club rivalries are no longer an issue. Let’s hope the outside noise is no longer an issue.

So, can England win the World Cup? Yes, they can! This is the time for them to step up and become heroes. No more years of hurt. No more need for dreaming. Three lions on the shirt. Football can come home.