In our World Cup preview series, we assess each of the tournament favourites featuring Barcelona stars, examining their key strengths and predicting how far they can go in the competition. Our last in the series but you can find the previous ones here: Brazil, Netherlands, France, Portugal and Spain.
It has been 60 years since England last lifted the World Cup, but belief that football could finally be coming home is stronger than ever heading into the 2026 tournament.
Thomas Tuchel has built his squad around chemistry, balance and current form rather than simply selecting the most talented names available. That approach has led to some high-profile omissions, with the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden left out in favour of players better suited to the identity he wants to create.
England are among the last nations to begin their campaign, giving Tuchel valuable extra time on the training ground before navigating what promises to be a challenging group. With Croatia, Ghana and Panama standing in their way, the Three Lions will need to hit the ground running if they are to justify their status as one of the tournament favourites.
Barcelona supporters will have a keen interest in England's World Cup campaign, particularly with Anthony Gordon emerging as the player set to replace departing forward Marcus Rashford.
Who will be the main man on the left
Barcelona supporters have enjoyed Marcus Rashford's contributions over the past 12 months, with the England international registering 14 goals and 11 assists as the club secured the La Liga title. However, despite a successful campaign in Catalonia, Rashford now finds himself on the outside looking in.
Anthony Gordon's arrival at Camp Nou has quickly shifted the narrative. The winger has already endeared himself to supporters with his fluent Spanish, but the real challenge will be proving his worth on the pitch next season. His signing appears to have closed the door on Rashford's long-term Barcelona future and could have further consequences for the Manchester United forward's place in England's plans.
Gordon offers a different profile to Rashford. Equally comfortable driving down the flank or cutting inside, he brings relentless energy, pressing intensity and strong link-up play. Those qualities could make him an ideal partner for Harry Kane and give him the edge in the battle for England's left-wing role. He will likely start the game on Wednesday ahead of Rashford.
England needs a firing Harry Kane
There is little doubt that Harry Kane will lead the line whenever he is fit, and if England are to fulfil their World Cup ambitions, much will depend on the Bayern Munich striker's ruthless finishing.
Kane arrives in North America in sensational form after scoring 61 goals for club and country, and many are tipping him to carry that momentum onto the biggest stage. With England expected to create plenty of chances, the Three Lions captain is among the favourites not only to fire his side deep into the tournament but also to claim another Golden Boot.
He will be needed for England to get past the tricky ties in the group.
Potential tricky group
Croatia have been something of a nemesis for England in recent years, famously ending their hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup final and frustrating them on other major occasions. However, this is a different Croatian side, with veterans such as Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić no longer carrying the same influence they once did.
Ghana also possess plenty of Premier League experience, with former Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo representing their biggest attacking threat. If Thomas Tuchel's side can keep Ghana's dangerous forwards under control, England will be confident of securing a positive result.
By the time Panama arrive as England's final group-stage opponents, the Three Lions will hope qualification is already within touching distance, allowing them to focus on building momentum ahead of the knockout rounds.
Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
Wednesday 17 June, 21:00 UTC | England vs Croatia |
Tuesday 23 June, 21:00UTC | England vs Ghana |
Saturday 27 June, 22:00UTC | England vs Panama |
Knockout rounds
Finishing top of the group would hand England a Round of 32 clash against one of the tournament's third-placed qualifiers, although the identity of that opponent remains difficult to predict given the unpredictable results so far. Should the Three Lions progress, they would then face either the winners of Group A or another third-placed side, with a potential meeting against hosts Mexico looming as a particularly challenging hurdle.
A second-place finish could make the path even tougher. England would likely face the runners-up from Group K, with Portugal or Colombia the most probable opponents, before a potential showdown with Group H winners Spain. On paper, topping the group appears to offer a far smoother route through the knockout stages and something England fans will demand.
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