Pep Guardiola breaks down England’s chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes England have a great shot at winning the upcoming World Cup in North America.

As excitement continues to build ahead of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, Guardiola’s remarks arrive at a time when City’s English contingent are experiencing a significant period of individual development.

The likes of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, John Stones, James Trafford, and Nico O’Reilly could all feature in Thomas Tuchel’s plans next summer, creating a strong Etihad Stadium influence within the national set-up, who are building on a run of consistent tournament performances under Gareth Southgate and now entering a new tactical chapter under Thomas Tuchel.

Guardiola’s endorsement also comes during a moment of transition at Manchester City, where long-term squad planning has been a major talking point in recent months, with the club tracking how their players may feature at the World Cup. England’s fixtures in a competitive group – including a heavyweight meeting with Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic’s Croatia – adds further intrigue from a City perspective.

Beyond the obvious narrative of England’s talent, Guardiola’s comments highlight the psychological barrier that previous generations struggled to overcome. The Catalan, who has spent nearly a decade observing English football culture from within, believes the nation is edging closer to the decisive “belief moment” that often precedes major tournament success.

Speaking during a recent press conference, and having established his support for the Three Lions earlier in the media activity, Pep Guardiola was asked what sort of chances he feels Thomas Tuchel and his England squad have of emerging victorious.

“A lot. If you see the quality of the manager, a lot. If you see the quality of the players they have, the players that maybe would not go, be selected – top,” Guardiola insisted.

“The moment they believe it, they can do it. I think Thomas [Tuchel] will convince them that they can do it. In all departments they are really good, really, really good,” he continued.

“With Gareth [Southgate] making the finals, semi-finals, finals, semi-finals, finals – they are close. Remember a little bit like Spain, it was always there. And the moment they break it and they won it, they were able to do it.”

Pep Guardiola’s praise will naturally fuel discussions about how Manchester City’s English stars fit into the bigger picture. Phil Foden is widely expected to be one of Tuchel’s central creative pieces, while John Stones’ long-term fitness will be closely monitored. Young talents like Nico O’Reilly could force his way into contention with consistent club form.

England’s success could also indirectly shape City’s summer and winter transfer strategies. A deep run would likely elevate the value and visibility of key first-team figures, while players on the fringe of Tuchel’s squad may view the months leading up to the World Cup as pivotal in securing more minutes at club level.

Ultimately, Pep Guardiola’s belief signals more than optimism, acknowledging that England now possess the tactical identity, leadership, and depth required to win football’s biggest prize for the first time since 1966.