The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11, as the month-long tournament once again brings football fever to the world.
Held in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America, Argentina will look to hold on to their World Cup crown, having beaten France through a penalty shootout in Qatar’s 2022 final.
Co-hosts Mexico will kick off proceedings on Thursday night, taking on South Africa in a repeat of the tournament opener in 2010 when their opponents hosted it for the very first time.
England go into it as one of the teams that people think could go far. However, there have been doubts cast over the squad named by Thomas Tuchel after several high-profile omissions.
The decision by Tuchel to not take Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Morgan Gibbs-White has raised the eyebrows of English fans. The former Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss said that his job “isn’t necessarily to select the 26 most talented players”. Former England striker Michael Owen praised the squad selected by Tuchel.
Owen on Tuchel’s squad selection
PHOTO: PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Thomas Tuchel England Manager talks to the England squad on June 05, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Owen was no stranger to an England World Cup squad. He broke onto the world stage in the 1998 World Cup in France, with his infamous goal against Argentina, before going on to play in four further major tournaments with the national team.
He would end his international career in 2008, with 40 goals in 89 appearances. Six of these came in major tournaments, with four of those in World Cups.
The decision to take Owen in 1998 came as a surprise to some. He expressed his thoughts on the squad.
“I like the squad”, said Owen, who is now the UK ambassador for the online casino comparison site Casino.org.
“I would have taken more game changers than full backs. I think if England are to win the World Cup, it will be because of our front players and I would look to keep swapping the front 3 behind Kane in games to keep everyone fresh.
“This is our strength and with Rashford, Rogers, Bellingham, Eze, Saka, Madueke, adding a Foden or Palmer could have been a move I would have taken, but he has chosen Toney, so it’s also how he uses Kane as with Watkins and Toney in the squad.
“I would look to use Kane well, to keep him fresh for the later stages, so I am ok with this selection. Keeper and defensively, the squad is filled with top players and holding midfielders we have plenty of quality there as well.
Owen on England’s World Cup chances
PHOTO: View of the original version of the 2026 World Cup trophy at Utopia Mixiuhca in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
England will be aiming to end 60 years of hurt this summer, after reaching the final of the past two European Championships.
After their quarter final exit to France in the 2022 quarter-final, England will look to repeat their 2018 tournament that saw them an extra-time period away from a final appearance.
Owen fancies England’s chances to go far in the tournament and stated who he thinks will win it.
“I think we have a very good squad. This is where England can be strong, by making sure they keep players fresh as it’s a long tournament.
“I think England can do well; we know Tuchel is a good tactician so let’s see how good he can be with this squad. It’s packed with top players and I expect England to go well. France and Spain are the ones to watch as have really strong depth of top quality and could see one of them win the World Cup, if it’s not England.”
