England are among the favourites to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup after brushing aside every opponent in the qualifiers.
Besides, they currently have one of the best squads in international football, so it is not surprising that they are highly fancied under German tactician Thomas Tuchel.
History is strongly against England as they have won the competition only once in their entire history. They lifted it when they hosted it in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Germany 4-2, with Geoff Hurst’s brace in extra time making the difference.
England’s record after winning the World Cup in 1966
In 1970, England threw away a comfortable 2-0 lead against West Germany in the quarter-finals, who bounced back and won 3-2.
The Three Lions failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. They returned in 1982 in Spain and reached the second group stage.
1986 in Mexico, Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God‘ goal helped Argentina beat England to end their dream of lifting the tournament again.
After finishing fourth in the 1990 World Cup, it took England 18 years before reaching the semi-finals stage of the tournament. The Three Lions did not qualify for the 1994 edition in the USA after a disastrous campaign under Graham Taylor.
In 1998 in France, England lost on penalties to Argentina in the round of 16 in a feisty contest. Brazil in the quarter finals eliminated England in 2002 after David Seaman failed to deal with Ronaldinho’s long free kick, and they lost 2-1.
Portugal won against England on penalties in Germany 2006 in the quarter-finals after a gruelling 2-2 draw in 120 minutes. Germany smashed England 4-1 in South Africa in a contentious manner. Embarrassingly, in South America in 2014, England did not qualify in a group against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
It will be 60 long years soon after the 2026 World Cup since England won the trophy, but skipper Harry Kane is optimistic they can win the tournament.
“In Gareth’s early stages we spent a lot of time talking about trying to make it more together and trying to put club football to one side when we come here with the national team,” Kane said.
England have had so many world-class players in recent years but failed to make any impact at the World stage. It took Gareth Southgate to break nearly two decades’ record of not reaching the last four at the World Cup.
In Russia 2018, Southgate was able to unite the squad by forcing them to put aside club rivalries, which had been bedevilling the team for so many years.
“And I think year by year that got stronger and stronger. But now, of course, the expectation now is to get over the line and win”, Kane concluded.
The in-form captain of England understands the expectations because they have reached two European finals in the last five years and have reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in the last two editions.
England undoubtedly have progressed since the Euro 2016 disaster in France under Roy Hodgson, as millions of people will expect Kane to lead this difficult mission.
The Three Lions in Group L will face Canada, Ghana and Panama, where they expect to qualify for the knockout phase.
