Home of football statistics and historyEngland will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to lift the prestigious trophy.
Their only previous success in the tournament was on home soil 60 years ago, but that won’t stop loyal fans from betting on them this summer.
The people of England are estimated to bet a whopping $5.8 billion USD at the upcoming 2026 World Cup, and a sizeable proportion of that figure will be wagered on their games.
With that in mind, read on as we assess why the Three Lions could be the value bet to end their long wait to win the World Cup for the second time.
The Tuchel factor
The Football Association’s decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as national team manager did not meet with widespread approval amongst the fanbase.
Many supporters believe that an Englishman should be in charge and have expressed dissatisfaction that a German citizen will lead them into the World Cup.
However, looking beyond that prickly subject, Tuchel’s record at club level stacks up extremely well when compared to the best English candidates.
He has won major silverware with clubs in Germany, France and England, so knows what it takes to deliver success at the top level.
By contrast, former manager Gareth Southgate repeatedly fell short in major tournaments. Tuchel will fancy his chances of changing the narrative this summer.
Harry Kane’s goals
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has scored 78 goals in 112 appearances for England, making him their all-time top goalscorer by a considerable distance.
Kane will head into the tournament on the back of another stellar season with Bayern, where he bagged 61 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star won the Golden Boot in 2018 and will be eager to reclaim the prize after failing to fire at Qatar 2022.
Most teams which win the World Cup have a prolific goalscorer leading the line, and the 32-year-old undoubtedly fits that description.
If Kane can finish the chances England create and steer clear of injury, they would have an excellent chance of winning the World Cup.
Playmakers change games
Tuchel’s decision to omit Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton from the squad raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly as Jordan Henderson was chosen in his place.
With the England manager favouring pragmatism over creativity in central midfield, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are guaranteed to start in a double pivot.
While critics have argued this leaves England devoid of craft in the middle of the park, this approach could bring out the best in the squad’s playmakers.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are vying to feature in the number ten role, and both could benefit from the additional solidity behind them.
They each have the ability to change games for England, which could be a decisive factor when they go head-to-head with the top teams.
Question marks abound elsewhere
Spain, France, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal are rated as the biggest threats to England’s hopes of winning the World Cup this summer.
However, while they are all worthy contenders, each nation has question marks hanging over them heading into the tournament.
Injuries to key players have impacted Spain and France ahead of the World Cup, while Brazil were hugely underwhelming during South American qualifying.
Argentina and Portugal have previously relied heavily on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but age eventually catches up with everyone.
Each of these factors creates a degree of uncertainty that England could capitalise on if their top players step up to the plate in North America.
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