ENGLAND ★

England won the 1966 World Cup — its only title in history. At the 2026 World Cup, England plays in Group L against Ghana, Croatia, and Panama. Head coach Thomas Tuchel started on January 1, 2025, after Gareth Southgate's departure — the third foreign manager of the national team, following Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. The core players: Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka.

In 1966 England hosted its first and so far only World Cup. In the final at Wembley on July 30 against West Germany, Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick — the only one in World Cup final history. His second goal remains disputed: the ball hit the crossbar, bounced down, and the referee counted it as crossing the line. England won 4:2 in extra time. Captain Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy — a moment still considered the defining point of English football. The next final came only 55 years later, at Euro 2020 against Italy — and England lost on penalties.

Tuchel replaced Southgate after a run of playoff exits (quarterfinal in 2022, final at Euro 2020). England was the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, winning all eight qualifying matches without conceding a single goal. In Group L the main rival is Croatia (the 2018 finalist and 2022 bronze medalist). Matches are in Boston, Miami, and Kansas City. After the group, a possible quarterfinal against Germany would be a rerun of one of football's classic derbies.

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